A former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika is in the cross
hairs of the United States as that nation is insisting that the former
army top gun be probed for alleged diversion of funds meant for the
procurement of weapons and other warfare equipment meant for the army.
Pointblanknews.com sources hinted that Ihejirika who arguably one of the
wealthiest retired Generals allegedly pocketed billions of naira meant for
the Army.
According to our source, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle
raised the issue when he met recently with President Goodluck Jonathan in
Abuja.
Ambassador Entwisle at the meeting at the Presidential Villa, said the U.S
is particularly concerned about the sudden riches of Ihejirika.
Ihejirika, who was fingered as one of the sponsors of Boko Haram by the
Australian hostage negotiator, Davies, is the front-runner for the Abia
state Governorship seat.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that the US Ambassador told Jonathan that the
Americans who were in Nigeria to assist in the fight against insurgents
were shocked to find out that what was on ground did not match the
billions allocated under Ihejirika’s watch.
There have been pockets of grumbling amongst the army rank and file over
obsolete and some times lack of top shelf weapons. This boiled over when
some soldiers mutinied against a General. Those soldiers were court
martialed and sentenced to death.
In 2012 alone the defence budget for capital expenditure was N34.36
Billion with a whooping N5.71 Billion earmarked for the acquisition
of equipment by the Army.
U.S President Barack Obama or the Secretary of state, John Kerry is
expected to discuss the issue with Jonathan at some close sessions during
the United Nations General Assembly.
The alleged rot and high level corruption in the military, sources said,
has affected the morale of the Americans who here as technical partners
and advisers.
Entwistle, it was learnt told Jonathan, every top military officer should
be held accountable if he wants the US to be part of the fight against
insurgents.
Pointblanknews.com also gathered that the high level corruption, contract
inflation and purchase of obsolete equipment and arms cut across the three
services.
This rot made Defence minister General Aliyu Gusau to insist that every
contract or procurement must pass through his office. Curiously, this move
did not go down well with the service chiefs who had hitherto enjoyed
autonomy.
Said our source ” the Americans want Ihejirika and his cohort probed. They
are insisting that the Government must hold thieving Generals accountable
if Nigeria wants them to be part of the fight against Boko Haram”
“The Ambassador expressed his nations unhappiness with what Ihejirika did
with the billions allocated to the Army. They are insisting he be probed.
We all know he is one of the riches retired Generals around. He
made billions that is why he wants to be Abia Governor,” said our source
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