By Ayo Fadimu
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, insists that his predecessors, who were the former Army Chiefs, should be the ones to offer explanations on if funds approved by the Federal Government to purchase ammunition to fight insurgency in the North East, were utilized for its intended purpose.
Recall that the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, in a BBC Hausa interview, last month revealed that funds running into billions of naira meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition under the past service chiefs were unaccounted for.
But in a public hearing at the National Assembly on Monday, members of the House Adhoc Committee on Arms and Ammunition Purchase asked Attahiru to explain the contents of the ‘Executive Summary’ on supposedly ‘arms purchase contracts’ awarded by the Nigerian Army, which he had laid before them. He disagreed that he should be responsible for explaining contracts of arms purchase he did not personally authorize or award.
The Chief of Army Staff insisted that he had barely settled into office and is definitely not the right person to speak on arms and ammunition purchased by his predecessors.
“The submission before you speaks to the report before you. It is an executive summary. It is very self-explanatory to the extent that it has been pluralised. When you demanded this report, you stated a specific period for which you wanted it.
“You may wish to recall that the Chief of Army Staff took over the mantle of leadership barely two months ago.
“The period for which you want this report having been summarised in the executive summary explained whatever details you require.”
Speaking further during the hearing, Lt. Gen. Attahiru, said he will prefer members of the adhoc committee invite the ‘specific individuals’ (apparently his predecessors) to explain ‘more clearly’ the specific issues to them. Explaining why he was unable to honour previous invitations and summons of the Reps Committee, the COAS said: “I was either in the North East, South East or better still, South-South trying to ensure stability within Nigeria.”
A member of the committee from Delta State, Ejiro Ogene, had earlier during the proceedings frowned at the COAS explanation for not appearing before the committee.
According to him, the National Assembly is the House of the Nigerian people and everybody in public office works for Nigerians adding that the House speaks for the people.
“When we ask you to come, the people are the ones speaking, sovereignty lies in the people; if we see it like this, things will be different.
“I expect that the COAS tenders an apology, not an explanation; you are serving the people and they are as your employer,” he said.
The COAS in response said his explanation serves as an apology.
“When you say I offered an explanation, it is as good as an apology. It only tells you the reasons why I wasn’t here and the reasons are pungent enough,” COAS told the lawmakers.
However, as tensions were rising, Chairman of the Committee, Olaide Akinremi ruled that the hearing goes into a closed-door meeting and the media were asked to leave the hearing.
The committee is reviewing the purchase, use, and control of arms, ammunition, and related hardware by the military, paramilitary, and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.
Our Correspondent gathered that the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on arms and ammunition chaired by Hon Olaide Akinremi is charged with reviewing the purchase, use, and control of arms, ammunition, and related hardware by the military, paramilitary, and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria.