Reports
have emerged that 13 retired military chiefs out of the 19 who are to
be probed are willing to refund N1trillion to the federal government as
part of the plea bargain arrangement.
The arms purchase probe panel that was set up by President
Muhammadu Buhari to probe contracts executed during the administrations
of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to former President Goodluck
Jonathan, has kicked off with no less than 13 allegedly indicted retired
generals opting for a plea bargain.
A highly placed defence source at the weekend told Nigerian Pilot
Sunday that the retired generals numbering 13 out of the 19 that are to
be quizzed by the panel have already approached some members of the
panel for amicable settlement of the matter than appearing before the
panel.
The security source further added that the 13 retired military
chiefs are willing to refund N1 trillion to the federal government as
part of the plea bargain arrangement.
The source added that the chairman of the probe panel is yet to
take a decision on the proposal given to him by the affected indicted
generals. Not fewer than 19 former military chiefs are to be quizzed by
the panel.
They are five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four
National Security Advisers, NSAs and eight former Ministers of Defence.
The probe has created panic among retired military chiefs who
coordinated arms purchases in the last eight years.
Nigerian Pilot Sunday learnt that five Israelis, who played major
roles in arms procurement for the military, in the last six years, are
to be invited by the committee, whose members were named on Monday after
President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.
The Israelis reportedly left the country on the eve of the general
elections, but will be summoned by the probe panel to appear before it.
The government has directed that tight security be provided for
members of the panel. The assignment is comprehensive. It will run
through many administrations.
The source further added, “The probe will require looking into the
administrations of five Chiefs of Defence Staff, 14 Service Chiefs; four
National Security Advisers and eight former ministers. It is a
Herculean task.