N10bn Fraud: Come clear on identity of military officer, group tells EFCC, NSA

The Coalition for Truth and Justice (CTF) has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the office of the National Security Adviser to reveal the identity of the ex-military officer who allegedly forfeited N10bn worth of properties and assets to the Federal Government.

According to the group, the blanket use of ‘military officers’ in such high-profile corruption cases will only demoralise the morale of troops on the frontlines.

In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Barrister Timothy Charles, on Friday, the coalition, therefore, urged the relevant authorities to name the principal suspect which it alleged has their origin from the Office of the NSA.

Charles noted that the use of ‘Military Officer’ is “deceptive, mischievous, and a mockery of the anti-corruption crusade of the Muhammadu Buhari administration”.

He, however, warned that should the EFCC fail to come clean, it would be seen as complicit in this case and Nigerians would soon rise against the anti-graft agency.

Read full statement below:

The Coalition for Truth and Justice is in receipt of a statement credited to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wherein it secured a final forfeiture order on some identified properties and assets valued at over 10 Billion naira from a military officer.

It is curious that the EFCC could elect to be economical with the truth by refusing to avail the identity of the owners of the said properties; instead, it resorted to using the nomenclature “Military Officer.”

The implication of the action of the EFCC is that it has the tendency to send the wrong signal to the military constituency, which might bring about unnecessary and unreasonable suspicion amongst military officers, and the attendant impact it might have on their productivity level.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice views the actions of the EFCC as an affront on our sensibilities by electing to act like it is unaware that the monies and the principal suspect have their origin from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

Therefore the coinage “Military Officer” by the EFCC is bewildering because the indices are clear as regards the fact that the said military officer was acting for a powerful interest in the Office of the National Security Adviser.

We are also alarmed that the EFFC, either by omission or commission, elected to be clever by half. But they failed to realize that their actions have the tendency to affect the psychological state of those in the trenches fighting and sacrificing themselves for the country.

The EFCC must tell the truth to the country regarding the identity of the military officer who was able to amass properties worth billions of naira. It is our considered opinion that the EFCC is economical with the truth by not stating expressly that the funds used in purchasing the said properties were from the Office of the National Security Adviser.

The Coalition for Truth and Justice is using this medium to demand the truth regarding the source of funds used in acquiring the said properties. The blanket use of “Military Officer” is deceptive, mischievous, and a mockery of the anti-corruption crusade of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The EFCC must not be seen as complicit in this case. As such, it must, as a matter of urgency, reveal the identity of the military officer as well as the source of the funds used in acquiring the confiscated properties.

It is our position that the term military officer is an embarrassment to the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which tends to paint a picture of military officers engaging in corrupt acts, therefore, dampening the morale of our fighting troops involved in various operations across the country.

The Coalition for Truth, as a result of this call on all well-meaning Nigerians to demand the truth from the EFCC in this case before us in the interest of peace and tranquillity for a lot, would be at stake in the country if matters like this are treated with utmost disrespect for the sensibilities of Nigerians who have continually bared the brunt of the actions of unscrupulous elements in positions of authority in the country.