One of the top officials of the Nigerian Air Force, who was allegedly implicated in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal and was put under house arrest at Niger barracks, has returned N66 million of the N90 million that was traced to his account, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The unnamed officer was subsequently released from detention. The EFCC, however, asked him to search for and return the balance of the money traced to him.

According to Vanguard, a source at the EFCC said in spite of returning the money, the officer is yet to be completely exonerated of the accusation.

The report further said that other military officials, who were also detained over the arms scandal, were not given the same privilege because they had refused to fully work with the anti-graft agency- although some are said to have returned ‘exotic cars and other valuables’.

The news portal also reported that another officer, an Air commodore, said to have properties in Kaduna, Dubai and Abuja, was also arrested and is currently in detention.

One of the arrested officials is an Air Vice Marshal (AVM) and leader of the team that had acquired ‘aircrafts with incomplete parts and also inflated the price from $6million to over $30million.’

Furthermore, wife of former Chief of Air Staff, Lara Amosu, who was detained overnight by the anti-corruption agency over allegations that some of the misappropriated arms fund was traced to her through her husband, has been released.

A source at the EFCC who spoke to Vanguard, stated that:

“She is not in our custody having been granted administrative bail. She will be asked to report back whenever we need her for further investigation,” the source said.

The source further stated that the money that was recovered from the former Chief of Air Staff’s house in Lagos has been kept as evidence to use when the trial of the corrupt officials begin.

Mazi Emeka