The immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), and other senior officers arrested over the $2.1bn arms deal scam, have been released by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Amosu, as well as a former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Vice Marshal J.B. Adigun and former NAF Director of Finance and Budget, Air Commodore O. O. Gbadebo, were all granted administrative bail.
According to Punch Newspapers, the EFCC seized their passports and also gave them the option of returning the money they allegedly stole.
A source at the EFCC was quoted to have said that the main objective of the anti-graft agency was to recover looted funds.
“Amosu, Adigun, Gbadebo and others were released on administrative bail because we are not ready yet to charge them to court. However, they have been cooperating with us and we have recovered (stolen) funds from them. So, we have asked them to go to enable them to get more money.”
“We have released them but we seized the passports of some of them while others were released based on the credibility of their sureties. Also, the holding charge we obtained from the court to keep them in custody had elapsed.”
“The reason why we charged Alex Badeh to court is that he has refused to cooperate with us. Even when we searched his house and found $1m, he still denied the ownership of the money. Those who are willing to cooperate can be converted to prosecution witnesses after returning funds. It is the standard practice worldwide.”
Meanwhile, the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Amosu had indeed, been released. “Yes, he has been released on administrative bail while investigations continue.”
Leave a reply