The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has taken in the former Chairman of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi, as it expands tentacles in the investigation of high profile politicians and top military officers over the $2bn arms contract allegedly disbursed by the Office of National Security Adviser., ONSA.
Atawodi was accused of alleged diversion of N600 million meant for acquisition of military boats for the use of the Nigerian armed forces.
Chairman Emeritus of Daar Communications, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa and former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda were earlier arrested for the same investigation.
Atawodi was said to have awarded the contract for the boats and fully paid for them while none was supplied at the end of the day, thereby making Nigeria lose the funds.
Atawodi, who recently retired from the Air Force, was arrested Wednesday and taken into EFCC custody for questioning.
According to EFCC sources, the retired airforce chief awarded the contract to one Alhaji Rabiu’s Hypertech Nigeria Limited, for which the contractor was fully paid but the boats were never supplied.
It was also learnt that the contract awarddid not follow the stipulated provisions of Procurement Act.
Reports say that AVM Atawodi had been on the radar of the anti-graft agency since 2013.
He was quizzed for several hours on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, after he responded to the invitation extended to him. He arrived EFCC headquarters at about 11am.
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed Atawodi’s presence at the Commission, adding that he is assisting the investigation.
At press time, the retired Air Force officer was still with operatives of the commission.
His arrest added to the increasing number of high profile Nigerian politicians and top military officers implicated in the diversion of defence budget, which the Buhari administration has sworn to unearth and punish.
