Buhari Orders EFCC To Investigate Former Service Chiefs Over N15bn Defense Contract

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President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former chief of defense staff, chiefs of air staffs and others in a phantom fighter jet, helicopter scam.

​This came after it was established that between September 2009 and May 2015, the NAF expended about N15 billion on the maintenance of its Alpha-Jets, C-130H aircraft and Mi-24V/35P helicopters. Out of this amount N4,402,687,569.41 was paid out for contracts not executed.

It was also observed that in carrying out these maintenance activities, contracts worth over N2.5 billion were awarded to Syrius Technologies, a Ukrainian company that was not registered in Nigeria. Regardless of these expenditures, the status of NAF fleet remained operationally appalling as only 3 Alpha-Jets, 2 C-130H and one each of Mi-24V and Mi-35P were serviceable as at 28 May 15.

According to Shehu Garba, Senior Special Assistant to the President, the order is based on the recommendation of the committee established to audit the procurement of arms and equipment in the Armed Forces and Defence sector from 2007 to 2015.