Probe Of The Marshals

Since the inception of
the present administration in May this year, it has never relented in embarking on all manner of probes into the activities of the last administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. But the current move by the federal government to look into arms purchases under the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration is particularly appropriate.
President MohammaduBuhari recently ordered an investigation into military hardware purchases under his two predecessors to root out corruption and fulfill his election promise to Nigerians to stamp out Boko Haram insurgency. Sequel to that, the president has directed his National Security Adviser to set up a 13-man panel to look into the procurement of weapons over the past eight years when the Peoples Democratic Party was in the saddle.
Much as the development does not come as a surprise given the sequence of events that characterized arms acquisition in the armed forces recently, let such probe include all contracts for weapons procurement by both the military authorities and other security agencies as well. The arms purchase audit is expedient to forestall upheavals such that characterized the botched arms purchase from South Africa and some other arms deals in the twilight days of the immediate past administration.
It would have been astonishing if Buhari had left out his primary constituency in his current drive to take stock of funds that left the national treasury and how they were used. Contrary to claims by some Nigerians, the planned probe of the military indicates one thing and that is, the anti-corruption war of the administration is not only targeted at the oil sector, but all government departments.
A thorough probe into all contracts for the procurement of weapons for the military will indeed achieve so much. For some time there have been controversies on the utilization of funds appropriated for security and the war against insurgency. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry how last year the country was discomposed by the over $15 million cash-for-arms deals in South Africa that went askance.
The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa, had on September 5, 2014, seized $9.3m cash flown into the country from Nigeria in a private jet. While the dust raised by that transaction was yet to abate, another confiscation of $5.7m belonging to Nigeria was made by the same South African authorities.
These developments are enough reasons for any responsible government to institute a probe to unearth the shady deals that might have individuated all arms acquisitions in the last regime. The recent public statement by the former National Security Adviser to ex-President Jonathan, Col. SamboDasuki (retd), to the effect that some of the equipment and weapons purchased by the Goodluck’s administration to fight insurgency were yet to arrive, gives further credence to the need for the inquisition.
That is why it is expedient for an inclusive inquiry to be made into all arms purchases to ensure financial morality and proper stock-taking. It will also guarantee that all arms which have been paid for but are yet to be delivered, are supplied eventually. Given the N4.62 trillion budgetary allocation to the military in the last five years, such probe will equally offer the military hierarchy an opportunity to explain how the stupendous sum was expended.
It is discreditable that about two decades ago, the military, which were seen as a force for stability across the West African region with its relatively well-trained and better-equipped troops, now struggle to keep control as the six-year insurgency threatens the nation’s sovereignty.
For the audit to be efficacious therefore government has to enlist experts in arms and ammunition procurement to lead the probe. Such investigation should never aim at witch-hunting either the last administration or anyone before it. Its objective should be to ensure that arms purchases by the military during Jonathan’s regime were appropriately handled.
If properly done, I believe findings from the probe will guarantee transparency and probity in future arms purchases to enrich the nation’s chances of winning the war against insurgency and streamline the procurement processes of weapons in the armed forces.

Arnold Alalibo