Reps invite service chiefs in move to begin inquest on arms fund

The House of Representatives has revealed its invitation to the nation’s service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police and other heads of paramilitary agencies, in order to explain the procurement and deployment of arms and ammunition in their respective agencies.

This inquest would be conducted during plenary on Monday, March 22, by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Need to Review the Purchase, Use and Control of Arms, Ammunition and Related Hardware by Military, Paramilitary and Other Law Enforcement Agencies in Nigeria.

According to reports, the House Committee on Defence has met with the Ministry of Defence on the $1bn special security fund released by the Federal Government in 2017, part of which was used to pay for 12 Super Tucano fighter jets in the United States.

Olaide Akinremi, Chairman of the ad hoc committee, at its first investigative hearing in Abuja, penultimate Friday, where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was represented by the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche had described the matter as sensitive.

Akinremi explained that following the resolution of the House to look into arms purchase in the last 10 years, incumbent heads of military and paramilitary agencies are to appear before the lawmakers on Monday.

The committee had the same day vowed to investigate the “missing” arms and ammunition for which the former service chiefs were allocated funds to acquire.

NORTHERN COALITION PLANS TO SUE BUHARI OVER SERVICE CHIEFS’ TENURE.

THE Coalition of Northern Groups says it’s dragging the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to court over the continued retention of the nation’s service chiefs.

On assumption of office in 2015, the President appointed General Gabriel Olonishakin as Chief of Defence, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as Chief of Naval Staff.

There have been calls for their removal for non-performance, but spokesman for the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, had consistently argued that only Buhari could hire and fire the service chiefs. However, the CNG disagreed, saying that the service chiefs have overstayed.

The coalition added that under them, the security situation in the North had worsened, hence the need for the court to compel Buhari to remove them (service chiefs). The CNG argued that there were laws guiding the appointments of the service chiefs, which must be followed to evolve the system. This, the northern organisation said, would be explored when they get to the court. CNG’s spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, stated these in an exclusive chat with The PUNCH in Kaduna.

Suleiman said, “The CNG is going to court because we believe it is now no longer a question of performance, but one of legality on whether the service chiefs, who have overstayed their years of service should not be compelled to comply with the laws guiding the prevailing scheme of service in the country.

“We would seek interpretation from the courts on the applicability of the law that says if a public servant attains 60 years of age, he must retire, or if he covers 35-years in service, he should go. On moral grounds, CNG regrets that by any standard of judgement, President Muhammadu Buhari and his security chiefs as constituted today have failed the nation in the vital area of improving its security.0