– The former Chief of Air Staff refuses to make any commitment to return any money.
– EFCC’s interrogation with Amosu reached a dead end on Tuesday, February 2.
– Amosu has not provided any information the commission needs.
There are reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) interrogation of Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), former Chief of Air Staff, reached a dead end on Tuesday, February 2.
According to The Punch, the commission had asked Amosu and others, who are still being detained over the $2.1bn arms deal, to refund some money or contract sums traced to them.
The former Chief of Air Staff was being interrogated in connection with 10 contracts awarded by the Nigeria Air Force between 2014 and 2015 making a total of $930.5m.
EFCC’s operatives met a brick wall when Amosu refused to make any commitment to return any money or contract sums, which had been allegedly traced to him.
A source, who spoke to The Punch, said as part of moves to recover the funds, the commission was making the signing of an undertaking to refund money as a precondition for granting the suspects administrative bail.
The source, who did not state the amount the former chief of air staff had been asked to pay, said: “Among others, Amosu is being quizzed over $930m contracts by the Air Force, but the commission had not made the progress it desires because he has not signed any undertaking to return any money. He has not provided the information the commission is looking for.”
It was learnt that most of the questions asked Amosu centred on the procurement of two used Mi-24V Helicopters instead of the recommended Mi-35M series at cost of $136.9m.
Amosu, was arrested and detained by the country’s anti-graft agency last week.
However, his arrest is not unconnected with allegations of massive fraud that characterized arms procurement during his tenure.
The retired air marshal is being investigated amongst other acts for reportedly authorizing the purchase of two helicopters without functional rotors.
SOURCE:Punch Nigeria