AIR CRASH THAT KILLED ATTAHIRU LINKED TO TERROR FINANCIERS, RETIRED GENERAL CLAIMS

indicative of a mid-air explosion. So, what caused the aircraft to explode? I wonder what the Air Safety and Accident Investigation Bureau report says about the incident."

Ali-Keffi further queried, "Was the flight deliberately delayed in order to be caught up in the rainstorm? Was the aircraft sabotaged, which caused it to explode mid-air? Was the explosion caused by explosives? Was a bomb planted in the aircraft or contained in a parcel, which a passenger unknowingly (or knowingly) carried?"

Ali-Keffi had earlier written to Tinubu over his arrest, detention and compulsory retirement, following the revelations of a presidential investigative taskforce that he headed. The inquest had exposed the involvement of senior government officials, a top banker, and top military brass in terrorism financing.

He was head of OPS, which was set up by former President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate those allegedly involved in terrorism financing.

Ali-Keffi said he headed a presidency-instituted Board of Inquiry (BOI) convened by Major General BM Monguno (rtd), the former National Security Adviser (NSA), which sat in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) for five weeks, from early January to late February 2020.

He stated, "I was the president of the BOI, with members/secretary drawn from the NCS, NIS, DSS, NIA, ONSA, NFIU. The Board of Inquiry, which largely conducted its work as an investigative body was tasked to investigate circumstances surrounding the illegal smuggling of petroleum products contained in 168 oil tankers into Benin Republic through a single smuggling route in Ilesa Barbara in Kwara State.”

Ali-Keffi said the BOI went further to uncover 295 oil tankers that conveyed Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with the major smugglers identified.

He said, “The petition stated that the BOI made a significant discovery regarding the relationship between the smuggling racket, the terrorism besetting the North-east, the banditry/ kidnapping for ransom, which was at its formative stage in the North-west and parts of North-central geo-political zones, the illegal mining of minerals in the North-west and North-central, and large scale laundering of mostly funds meant for counterterrorism/insurgency operations that was ongoing mostly in the northern regions of the country.

"A syndicate, which had extensive network in the country as well as being affiliated to international criminal network, was as the centre of moving finances for terrorism for other criminal activities stated above.”

Ali-Keffi revealed, "The most worrisome aspect was that some of the individuals involved in terrorism financing of Boko Haram terrorists and who were also involved in procurement and movement of arms and ammunition for BH and other criminal organisations had links with the military.

"It was, thus, apparent that terrorism and insurgency in the North-east, North-west, and North-central were a criminal enterprise and were largely undertaken with profit rather than any ideology, as the primary motive.

"Thus, we at the BOI arrived at the obvious conclusion that progress cannot be achieved except the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of the terrorists and insurgents groups are identified and the network dismantled."

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) constituted an audit committee four days after the Kaduna air crash that claimed the lives of Attahiru and other officers to investigate the incident.

The then Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Oladayo Amao, formed a team of serving and retired senior officers to conduct a safety audit of all NAF operational and engineering units.

Air Force Spokesman, Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, said in a statement at the time of the crash that the committee was to, among others, analyse safety reports from operational and engineering units, conduct safety evaluation of NAF units, and recommend safety measures.

It said the team would also interact with unit operational and technical personnel for views, observations, and contributions on safety measures.

Chaired by Air Vice Marshal Abraham Adole, then Deputy Theatre Commander, Operation HADIN KAI, the committee was to submit its report not later than June 18, 2021.

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) in collaboration with Nigerian Air Force also submitted an interim report on the Air Force aircraft, King Air 350.

Presenting the report to Amao, former Chief Executive Officer of AIB, Akin Olateru, said the report contained 27 findings and eight recommendations for immediate implementation.

Although the statement, jointly signed by Gabkwet and his AIB counterpart, Tunji Oketunbi, did not contain the details of the recommendations, the statement said the report was organised into three sections.

It said, “The submitted report is organised into three sections, namely, the information obtained in the course of the investigation; analysis of data collected in view of the board’s terms of reference and the conclusion, which covers the initial findings and immediate recommendations.”

The statement also said the final report would contain more detailed information. But it was not made public.

When contacted, Defence spokesman, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, promised to react to Ali-Keffi's claims, but referred the reporter to the army.