The Economic and Finanacial Crimes Commission has traced some of the $2.1billion arms procurement funds to the accounts of wives and children of some former and serving military chiefs.

The Nation reports that the EFCC may possibly restrict access to all the identified accounts before the end of the week.

A source privy to details of the investigation was reported to have revealed that- in order to hide their loot, some of the former and serving officers under investigation acquired properties in the names of their wives, children and relations.

The source was quoted to have 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.

“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.”

“We have already marked the properties of one of the children of a top military brass. We have invoked Temporary Assets Forfeiture Clause in EFCC Act,” the source said.

“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.”

“We have done enough ground work to interrogate some of these former and serving military chiefs. We have also summoned most of the former and serving military officers referred to EFCC for probe.”

Those under investigation are: former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh,  Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal M.D. Umar; a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki ; Col. N. Ashinze , who was the Special Military Assistant to the ex-NSA; and a former Chief of Air Staff, A.N. Amosu; the most senior Air Force officer, AVM A. M. Mamu(the Chief of Administration); AVM O.T.Oguntoyinbo (former Director of Production, Defence Headquarters);  AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Officer Tactical Air Command, Makurdi;  AVM J.B. Adigun(former Chief of Accounts and Budgeting in NAF); and AVM JA Kayode-Beckley(Director, Armament Research in Air Force Research and Development Centre); AVM T Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings)four top officers at the Defence Headquarters(DHQ), Air Cdre AO Ogunjobi; Air Cdre GMD Gwani; Air Cdre SO Makinde; and Air Cdre AY Lassa.

Badeh reported to the EFCC for questioning on Wednesday, but his invitation was rescheduled for Monday ‘because of operational reasons’.

Kolapo Olapoju