Army chief finally appears before reps over arms purchase probe

Ibrahim Attahiru, chief of army staff, has finally appeared before the house of representatives ad hoc committee probing the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military.

Attahiru appeared before the committee on Monday, after failing to honour its previous invitations.

The committee had summoned him and Godwin Emiefele, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to come and clarify issues concerning the purchase of arms for the past ten years.

It was constituted to review the purchase, use and control of arms, ammunition and related hardware by the military and other law enforcement agencies.

They had to adjourn their last sitting till Monday after the chief of army staff failed to show up.

Earlier on March 22, Bede Eke, a member of the panel, questioned the CBN’s reluctance to explain how the funds for the arms were disburded.

“CBN has been a problem for this house. They cannot operate the way they are operating and this house will keep quiet because we approve their budget,” the lawmaker had said.

“Come and tell us how much we have paid for the purchase of arms; we have given you the right to a fair hearing. Are you hiding anything? If there is something you are hiding because you are CBN, we will not allow it.

“People are killed every day. We do not have time; we come here every day, sit for hours and wait for a government agency.”