Arms Deal: EFCC traces cash to military chiefs’ wives, children
- EFCC traces huge cash to military chiefs’ wives, children
- Some of the $2.1 billion arms fund was laundered through proxies, relations and phony companies
- The anti-graft agency has already marked some properties belonging to some military chiefs’ children
As the probe into the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal continues, reports have it that the Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has traced some of the money to the accounts of wives and children of some former and serving military chiefs.
According to a source, the anti-graft agency may restrict access to all the identified accounts “this week,” The Nation reports.
A source close to the investigation disclosed that some of the former and serving officers under investigation acquired properties in the names of their wives, children and relations to cover up their loot.
The source said: “Our investigators have uncovered that some of these military officers under probe stashed their shares of the $2.1billion arms cash in the accounts of their relations, especially wives and children.
READ ALSO: $2.1bn Arms Deal Saga: EFCC invites former CDS Badeh
“We have traced such slush funds and we may freeze these accounts until we have screened the inflows and expenditures. The legitimately operated accounts will be freed after thorough screening.
“It is obvious that some of the arms cash were laundered through proxies, relations and phony companies. Some even registered companies in the names of their spouses or families.”
The source added that some properties belonging to some military chiefs’ children and relations have been identified as products of proceeds of financial crimes and they have been marked.
The source said the commission had invoked Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause in EFCC Act.
According to the source, they had done enough ground work to enable them grill some of the former and serving military chiefs.
READ ALSO: Arms deal: Top military officers grilled by EFCC
A former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh and other army officers were indicted in the $2.1 billion arms scam and Buhari had directed the EFCC to carry out further investigations into the activities of officers linked to the arms deal scam.
Badeh reported to the EFCC yesterday but his interrogation was rescheduled for Monday “because of operational reasons.” It was learnt that the EFCC may interrogate Badeh alongside some military officers who have also been invited.
He will become the fourth to be quizzed among the 17 former and serving military officers recommended for investigation.
Source: Legit.ng
