– EFCC tells former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu to address more than 10 contracts valued at $930m awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015

– The anti-graft agency quizzed Amosu for 17 hours

– More top officials set to be quizzed in connection with the $2.1billion arms deal probe

The former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu has been undergoing what a source described as “intense” interrogation in the last 17 hours by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in connection with the $2.1billion arms deals probe, The Nation reports.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said: “Amosu reported to the EFCC late Tuesday, January 26, based on the report of the Special Investigative Committee (SIC) and we have detained him.

“The ex-Chief of Air Staff has undergone intense interrogation in the last 17 hours on more than 10 contracts awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015.

“He is expected to provide evidence of the execution of these contracts and clarify why NAF bought used Mi-24V helicopters instead of Mi-35M series.”

The source also spoke about how some used Alpha jets were bought and Amosu confirmed in a letter to former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki that all the Alpha-Jets were delivered to NAF in good condition

He said: “So, Amosu is central to the purchase of some of the arms and jets. After interrogating him, we will then take on all Air Force officers associated with procurement in NAF. The truth is that the figures of procured equipment do not tally at all with the inventory on ground.

“With Amosu being interrogated, we will now be inviting other top military chiefs.

“Dasuki confirmed that Amosu and a few others confirmed the receipt of these equipment and jets in good condition.”

Following the development, Amosu is expected to address more than 10 contracts valued at $930,500,960 which were awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015 and why NAF bought used Mi-24V helicopters instead of Mi-35M series.

EFCC tells former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu to address more than 10 contracts valued at $930m awarded by the Nigerian Air Force between January 2014 and February 2015

The other issues he was confronted with are:

– Payment of N4,402,687,569.41 for unexecuted contracts;

– Procurement of two used Mi-24V helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at $136,944,000.00;

– Purchase of Four used Alpha-Jets for the NAF at US$7,180,000.00 funded by ONSA;

– Cannibalisation of engines from NAF fleet to justify procurement of jets; and

– Excessive pricing of 36D6 Low Level Air Defence Radar at $33m instead of $6m per one.

– Delivery of radars without vital component of Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) that distinguishes between own and adversary aircraft,

– Transfer of $2m to Mono Marine Corporation Nigeria Limited, owned by some Air Force officers and N15bn spent on the maintenance of Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters.

– N2.5billion contracts awarded to Syrius Technologies ( an Ukrainian company) not registered in Nigeria

– Why out of seven contracts worth N599,118,000.00 awarded  to Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON);only  two were delivered

It was also learnt that he bank accounts of the ex-Air Chief may have been restricted. Besides, some houses believed to be his have been put under surveillance.

Apart from Amosu, the EFCC will also be interrogating  AVM A. M. Mamu (the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi; AVM J.B. Adigun (former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM J.A. Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T. Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings), four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre G.M.D. Gwani; Air Cdre S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre A.Y. Lassa and Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to Col. Dasuki (retd).

Former National Security adviser, Sambo Dasuki had insisted that Amosu confirmed the delivery of the four Alpha Jets and 12 helicopters.

“It is laughable for the panel to assume that four Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu, acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters”, Dasuki wrote in a letter to a  panel probing the arms deal scandal.