Another serving officer and former Director of Military Intelligence, Major General Wiwa, has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the abused $2.1 billion arms funds.
General Wiwa is a younger brother to late Ken Saro-Wiwa, the late Ogoni rights activists’ who was executed by the Abacha’s government in connection with the Ogoni crises of the 1994. He was was the Deputy Commandant at the Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Oshodi, before his arrest.
Wiwa is said to have held several prominent positions in the offices of National Security Adviser and Chief of Army Staff, which make a likely link to some unresolved questions by the investigator of the arms deal.
Wiwa was Military Assistant to late General Owoye Azazi when he served as Chief of Defence Staff; he was Principal Staff Officer, PGSO, at the office of the National Security Adviser when Azazi served as NSA; he continued in the position as PGSO when Col Sambo Dasuki was NSA and was later appointed Director of Military Intelligence when Lt. General Azubuike Ihejirika became the Chief of Army staff.
When Lt. General Kenneth Minimah assumed office as the Chief of Army Staff, he retained Wiwa as DMI.
The Army on Friday confirmed that 12 Army officers, including serving and retired, had been sent to the EFCC for investigation, while adding that at the end of the commission’s investigations, those found culpable would be tried by a military Court Martial.
According to the Army statement signed by Col Sani Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that 12 Army officers have been sent to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), for investigation.
“This comprised of three serving Major Generals, and one retired, three Brigadier Generals, four Colonels and one Lieutenant Colonel. However, it should be noted that at the end of the Commission’s investigations those found culpable will be tried by a military Court Martial.
Col Usman, did not state in specific term what the officers were being investigated for.accounts of wives of three airforce chiefs.
-with online reports
