Arm Scandal:Top Military Serving Officers Return N66m, SUVs

The detention by house arrest effected on four Air Vice Marshals and some Air Commodores at Niger Barracks, Abuja, over alleged corruption has started yielding fruits as it was gathered that one of the officers, of Air Vice Marshal rank has returned the sum of N66 million to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)

The anti-corruption war was sequel to what was regarded as the role played by the officers in relation to the arms scandal. It was gathered that the sum of N90 million was traced to the officer.

The senior officer who is a serving personnel and Principal Staff Officer at the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) headquarters was consequently released from detention after a promise to refund the balance.

A source said,that though the officer was let off the hook, it does not mean that he is free yet.

According to the source, other senior officers being detained at the barracks on trust for the EFCC were yet to regain freedom as they were yet to fully co-operate with the EFCC interrogation team, even though some have returned exotic cars and other valuables.

It was also gathered that an Air Commodore who is said to have benefited from the arms deal and has properties in Dubai, Kaduna and Abuja has equally been arrested and is under detention.

The source revealed that one of the Air Vice Marshals was the arrow head of those who bought aircrafts that had incomplete parts and also inflated the price from $6million to over $30million.

NAF denies locating Chibok girls

Meanwhile, the attention of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has been drawn to a statement to the effect that the NAF has located the position of the Chibok girls.

In a statement the NAF said: “Please let it be known that this statement is a misrepresentation of the interview that the NAF Director of Public Relations gave the Channels Television that was aired on Friday 12 February 2016.

“The NAF is hereby making it categorically clear that in the said interview the Director made mention of the NAF’s ability to identify POSSIBLE LOCATION that the girls might be in.

“Hence, the NAF wishes to categorically state that it has at no time identified the specific location of the Chibok girls.

However, it is working round the clock with surveillance aircraft.”(Tribune)