Boko Haram Killings: Reps Probe $1bn Arms Procurement …Demand Release Of Dead Soldiers’ Names …As Senate Suspends EFCC Scribe’s Confirmation

The House of Representatives, yesterday, began investigation into the one billion dollars appropriated for procurement of arms and equipment in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East.
The lawmakers also demanded that the Nigerian Army should, after due consultations with families of soldiers killed in the November 18, insurgents’ attack in Metele village in Borno, release all their names.
The resolution was sequel to a motion by Rep Chukwuka Onyema (PDP-Anambra) at the plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara in Abuja.
Our Correspondent reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of 1 billion dollars for the procurement of security equipment to be used in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents.
Moving the motion, Onyema, who is the Deputy Minority Leader, noted that many Nigerian soldiers of the 157 battalion were massacred by Boko Haram insurgents, who now called themselves Islamic State West Africa, in Metele in Borno State.
According to him, the initial figures of the casualty put the death toll at 44 but as more details emerged, it is now confirmed that many more soldiers and officers were killed together with their commanding officer, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sakaba, while others are still missing.
“The House notes that according to reports, the insurgents carted away large consignment of weapons from the Melete army base which security experts say would embolden them and pose great danger.
“The House observed that while the news of the attack and death toll continued to increase, neither the President nor the Minister of Defense or the army authorities said anything about the report as there was silence for more than five days.
“The House notes that the President and C-In-C finally broke his silence six days after the attack in a statement issued on his behalf,” he said.
The lawmaker said it was unfortunate that in the last one year, no fewer than 600 Nigerian soldiers were killed by insurgents, mostly in Borno State around the fringes of the Lake Chad.
He enumerated instances of attacks launched by Boko Haram against Nigerian soldiers within the year under review.
Onyema, who expressed regret that while the executive continued to insist that the insurgents had been technically defeated, he said they seemed to be waxing stronger on a daily basis.
“The House recalls that twice in three years, the Commander-In-Chief gave directives to service chiefs to permanently relocate to the Theatre Command Centre in Maiduguri until Boko Haram is defeated,” he said.
He said it was disheartening that with the recent happenings in the North, all the successes and gains made against the insurgents had been reversed.
Contributing, Rep Nnenna Ukeje (PDP-Abia) said it was high time Nigeria began to change tactics in order to checkmate the audacity of the insurgents.
She urged the Federal Government to take a cue from Pakistan and review the curriculum of its military.
Rep Aminu Shagari (PDP-Sokoto), who queried how the recently appropriated money was used, described the attack as sad.
Rep Beni Lar (PDP-Plateau) called for the sack of the service chiefs.
On his part, Rep Idris Ease (APC-Plateau) called on the House to treat the matter dispassionately and not to be affected by political sentiment.
Rep Rimande Shawulu (PDP-Taraba) recalled that last year, there were reports that about 6, 000 members of the Islamic State in Syria (ISIS) found their ways to the sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, some of the things we are seeing now are not unexpected.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the effort by the APC to justify President Muhammadu Buhari’s handling of the nation’s troops, in the wake of the killing of over 100 soldiers by insurgents last week in Borno state as abhorrent, reprehensible and a slap on the sensibility of Nigerians. National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus and President Muhammadu Buhari
The PDP said by its stand, the APC, as a party, has fully demonstrated that it is an organisation that attaches no value to the lives of our soldiers or other Nigerians, but more interested in seeing funeral ceremonies and gloating over the graves of its victims.
In a statement issued yesterday by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party berated the APC for allegedly trying to twist information in the public domain concerning the senseless massacre of the soldiers.
The statement read in part: “Why would the APC attempt to wave off revelations, which are already in the public domain, that officials of the Presidency are diverting funds meant for military equipment and welfare of our soldiers to finance Mr. president’s re-election campaign?
“If the APC were not jittery over revelations that it is a core beneficiary of this evil racket, why is it rushing to defend the Minister of Defence on findings that he diverted military funds to produce campaign materials for the APC including an electronic momento, with APC logo boldly inscribed on them?
“We challenge the APC to explain to Nigerians why it took President Buhari, as Commander-in-Chief, a whole week to express ‘shock’ over the killing of over 100 of our soldiers?
“What has the APC to say to the fact that instead of being at the forefront of investigations, our Minister of Defence was busy using military funds to produce campaign souvenirs for President Buhari and the APC?
“It is therefore an unpardonable assault on the sensibility of Nigerians for the APC to, in anyway, attempt to justify President Buhari’s negligence and inaction toward the welfare of our soldiers as well as the diversion of military fund for Mr. President re-election campaign at the expense of the lives of Nigerians.
“If the APC is not complicit in this heinous crime against our nation, we challenge it to join the PDP in demanding for a National Assembly inquest into the killing and the handling of anti-insurgency funds under President Buhari, instead of this resort to wicked hypocritical posturing.”
Also yesterday, The Senate suspended confirmation of Barrister Olanipekun Olukoyede as Secretary to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The development followed a report by the Chairman of the Committee on Anti-corruption and Financial Crimes, Senator Chukwuka Utazi, stating that the nominee appeared for screening on 24th October, 2018 and performed satisfactorily.
Utazi stated that the nominee had educational qualifications, and he hailed from Ikere-Ekiti, South-West Nigeria, adding that there was no objection to his nomination from any quarter.
However, Senator Hamman Isah Misau, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial district who is a member of the Committee, objected to the report, stating that he did not append his signature.
He said he was never invited to the screening exercise, adding that the Committee clerk must not release reports that were not consented to by lawmakers.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I am a member of this Committee and I was not invited to the screening.
“I am calling on you, Mr. President to step down this confirmation because, I remember I raised objection in one of the meetings and this one is very sensitive.”
Reacting, the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki suggested that the confirmation be suspended until when all members would have met on the matter again.
Although the Committee Chairman, Senator Utazi insisted that Isah Misau was invited, Saraki adopted the motion that the confirmation be suspended for today.
President Muhammadu Buhari had, in an executive communication dated 17th October, 2018, forwarded the Ekiti-born lawyer to the Senate for confirmation.