Alleged N13b arms cash: Ihejirika to face another EFCC panel in Lagos

For the second day running, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday interrogated a  former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika,  over alleged N13 billion arms cash traced to him and relations.

He will also be relocated to Lagos to face another panel of the EFCC on the $2.1billion arms deals through the Office of National Security Adviser(ONSA).

It was unclear when Ihejirika will appear before the team in Lagos.

But one of his nephews, who also operates as a Personal Assistant sometimes to Ihejirika, admitted payment of about N69million into his account.

He said the cash was remitted “based on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff” without offering any service.

A source in the EFCC, who spoke on the latest bend of the ongoing investigation,  said: “The interrogation of a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd), continued for a second day, today February 22, 2018 with the operatives of the EFCC further confronting him with more revelations unearthed in the investigation of the now infamous $2.1 billion arms deal scandal.

“Ihejirika, who came in to the EFCC Headquarters, Abuja at about 12 noon today, was released, at the end of the first round of questioning.

“He had requested to be allowed to go back home and gather more information as regards various documents and questions put to him by investigators.

“The former Army Chief will also face another investigation panel at the Lagos office of the EFCC.”

As at press time, a nephew of Ihejirika has owned up that about N69million was remitted into his account “based on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff.”

Another source said: “The nephew was honest in telling the EFCC team that he neither offered any service nor executed any contract for the Nigerian Army.

“When the panel inquired about what the money was meant for, the nephew simply added: ‘I was given to assist relations.’ He is yet to provide the details of disbursement.”

The Presidential Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement (CADEP), headed by AVM JON Ode(rtd) had discovered that Army votes including N115m, $132,000, €16,000 and £44,0000 were transferred to individuals

“Furthermore, analyses of the various banks  of the two companies revealed suspicious transfers to individuals such as Raymond Ihejirika, Nkechi Ihejirika, Ndubuisi Ihejirika, Orji Ihejirika, Kingsley Ihejirika and Naomi Onyeabor. The total amounts transferred to these individuals was over N115m, $132,000, €16,000 and £44,0000, the panel said.

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