Arms deal probe: Read how FG doctored report to shield Buratai, Dambazau
– The controversy surrounding the arms deal probe is still raging
– Frontline Second Republic politician and Northern leader, Dr Junaid Mohammed has made a very strong statement
– Dr Mohammed accused the presidency of shielding some prominent individuals in the probe
The presidency has been accused of doctoring the Arms Procurement Probe Report to shield minister of interior, Lieutenant-General Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd) and Chief Of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Tukur Buratai.
Former NSA Dasuki who is already in detention is one of those indicted in the arms deal probe report
Dambazau is a former Chief of Army Staff while Buratai is a former director of procurement in the defence headquarters.
“Nigerians should recall that the three Chiefs of Army Staff who served during the period under review included Major General Abdulrahman Dambazau, who is also the current minister of interior, Major General Azubuike Ihejirika, Major General Kenneth Minimah and Major General Tukur Buratai, who before his appointment as the current Chief of Army Staff, was director of procurement, defence headquarters for years.
“The report of the committee was doctored in the presidency by some cabal after it was submitted, to shield Dambazau and Buratai who were allegedly indicted.
“Dambazau is a close ally of Alhaji Mamman Daura, who is President Buhari’s nephew, and also head of the ‘cabal’ in Buhari’s presidency today. Buratai is an ally of Dambazau and President Buhari. So there is no way the presidency will not shield the duo,” Dr Mohammed told The Guardian.
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Dr Mohammed further called on the presidency to publish the original copy of the report the way the probe of the Nigerian Airforce was made public.
His words: “Why is Ihejirika under any form of detention now? Why is he being harassed, when the presidency is shielding some persons indicted in the report? Is it because he is not president’s ally or not from the North? President Buhari should publish the original copy of the report, the way that of Nigerian Air Force mess was made public.
“Nigerians should know that as far as the cabal holds sway in Aso Rock, nothing will happen to Dambazua and Buratai.”
Reacting to Dr Mohammed’s allegations, a source in the presidency who spoke under the condition of anonymity said Dambazua was not indicted in the report, because during his era as Chief of Army Staff, awarding of contracts and procurement of arms was being carried out by the ministry of defence, not office of the Chief of Army Staff.
“It was after Dambazua left office that his successor took charge of awarding of contracts and procurement in the service. So there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the report was doctored to shield him,” the source said.
The source was however silent on the omission of Buratai’s name.
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Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has grilled Dr Doyin Okupe again based on his alleged role in the arms deal probe.
Okupe, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, was initially questioned on Wednesday, June 22 over alleged N162million illicit payments to him and his companies by former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who is standing trial at the moment.
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