BREAKING NEWS, Security
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AT least 12 senior officers of the Nigerian Army, including Generals, have been sacked over alleged involvement in the Ekiti governorship election scandal and defence contract related offences. Although the Army failed to disclose names and number of the affected officers, it was on record that more than a dozen top officers were handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for investigation over alleged defence procurement fraud.
Some others were probed for alleged misconduct during the last general elections. The decision to sack the officers was reached following a meeting of army council on Thursday, June 9, the statement said.
Sani Kukasheka Usman, Army Director of Public Relations, said “The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the general public that quite a number of senior officers of the Nigerian Army were retired from service yesterday. Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major.
“Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections. Similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot.
“Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). People should therefore not read this out of context. The military must remain apolitical and professional at all times. We must applaud and support this laudable and bold initiative by the government.”
The Army had last year sent 12 Army officers to the EFCC for investigation. Usman had in a statement issued last year said the indicted officers comprised three serving Major-Generals, one retired Major-General, three Brigadier-Generals, four Colonels and a Lieutenant Colonel.
Defending the sack, the Nigerian Army, denied allegations that those affected by the recent retirement exercise it embarked upon were deliberately pooled from a section of the country to further advance a ‘northern agenda’, describing the reports as unfair and unethical.
The Army had come under fierce criticism following claims that senior army officers were compelled to retire because they were from the south of Nigeria and loyal to former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The allegations, which came overwhelmingly from commentators in the southern part of the country, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved the exercise in order to purge southerners from the top hierarchy of the military while replacing them with northerners.
But in a statement issued late Sunday by Usman, the Nigerian Army pushed back against the attacks, saying the exercise was carried out in strict compliance with the country’s extant laws. “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to speculations and rumours regarding the number and names of the senior Army officers affected in the recent retirement exercise.
“This is worrisome as some individuals and media houses went to the ridiculous extent of publishing outrageous figures and names of serving officers as being retired. This is unethical and unfair. We are quite aware that some mischievous elements are trying to whip up sentiments. This is quite unfortunate because all the affected officers were retired based on Service exigencies and in line with the Armed Forces Act, CAP A20 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004,” the Army said.
— Jun 13, 2016 @ 13:25 GMT
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