EFCC Raids Namadi Sambo’s Office

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the weekend raided the Abuja office of former Vice-President Namadi Sambo in connection with the ongoing investigation into the $2.1 billion arms procurement probe.

The raid, according to the commission’s sources, was prompted by allegations that some of the funds disbursed for the political campaigns of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the immediate past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd),

through the former vice-president.

When contacted, spokesperson of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, could not confirm the raid.

“I will have to get back to you on this,” he said.

However a source disclosed that in addition to documents carted away during the raid, the sum of $50,000 was discovered in the office.

Also, THISDAY learnt that in addition to the former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (rtd), other military personnel whose identities could not be ascertained were still in the custody of the EFCC.

Amosu was picked up by the commission last week after the presidential panel probing arms procurement by the previous administration indicted him and other top retired and serving military officers.

Other officers lined up for questioning include the former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (rtd); Amosu’s predecessor, Air Marshal M.D. Umar (rtd); AVM A. M. Mamu (Chief of Administration); AVM O.T. Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi); AVM J.B. Adigun (former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); AVM J. A. KayodeBeckley (Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T. Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings); four top officers at the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), Air Cdre A.O. Ogunjobi; Air Cdre G.M.D Gwani; Air Cdre S.O. Makinde; Air Cdre A.Y. Lassa; and Col. N. Ashinze, who was the Special Military Assistant to Dasuki.

The breaches identified by the presidential committee included non-specification of procurement costs, absence of contract agreements, award of contracts beyond authorised thresholds, transfer of public funds for unidentified purposes, and general non-adherence to the provisions of the Public Procurement Act.