The sacking of about 60 senior Army officers in Nigeria some weeks ago have left tongues wagging in the public as well as fueling rumour of tribal sentiment within the Army.
Insiders are alleging that the two panels set up by the army authorities to investigate officers who allegedly compromised professionalism for partisan politics in the last general elections in Nigeria and allegedly engaged in corrupt acts regarding the ongoing arms deal probe, were biased in their findings and recommendations.
The panels were alleged to have allowed ethnic sentiment to becloud their judgment as they suggested names of the accused officers.
Investigations conducted by our reporter revealed that, many senior Army officers whose name were listed for various sanctions by the panel were said never to have been invited for questioning while the panel’s sittings lasted. “The two panels, that headed by Major General Adeniyi Oyebade and the one chaired by AVM J.O.N Ode, never invited most of these officers for interview on the alleged offences for which they were sanctioned,” squealed an insider who incidentally is still in the service.
It is recalled that, Major General Oyebade who headed the first Panel had recommended the following, according to the acting Army spokesman at the time, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman; “two officers were recommended for compulsory retirement from the Nigerian Army, three were to lose their command and one was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification. Other recommendations, according to Usman, include placing fifteen officers on watch list, nine officers were to be further investigated by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) over allegations leveled against them. While six officers were to face an audit committee and 62 officers (mostly of the rank of Majors-below) were to be given 'Letters of Displeasure' and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counseling. Three officers are to be given letters of commendations.”
Meanwhile, according to sources, many of these listed officers were never interviewed before they were handed punishments, as Usman claimed in the statement.
Our inside source stated that, the “influence of the Chief of Army Staff and mindset of some top Northern elements within and outside the army, actually decided the fate of these indicted officers.
“If you study the list comprising names of these sanctioned officers, you would realize that most of them were compulsorily retired and majority of the 60 listed for sack were from the Southern parts of Nigeria. Only few northerners were included in the list,” the source alleged.
Interestingly, according to the source who is from the North, his colleagues whose names were included in the list and are from the North were already being covertly readmitted into army. “I’m from the North but I do not share this tribal stuff. I’m not an ethnic bigot. I hate it because, even now, some names in that list that are from the North like me are now being returned to the service through the back door,” said the source.
However, calls have gone to President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the matter in order to halt the cold conflict within the army ranks, which if not checked in time may not augur well for the unity of the country.
“If you study the list comprising names of these sanctioned officers, you would realize that most of them were compulsorily retired and majority of the 60 listed for sack were from the Southern parts of Nigeria. Only few northerners were included in the list,” the source alleged.
Interestingly, according to the source who is from the North, his colleagues whose names were included in the list and are from the North were already being covertly readmitted into army. “I’m from the North but I do not share this tribal stuff. I’m not an ethnic bigot. I hate it because, even now, some names in that list that are from the North like me are now being returned to the service through the back door,” said the source.
However, calls have gone to President Muhammadu Buhari to wade into the matter in order to halt the cold conflict within the army ranks, which if not checked in time may not augur well for the unity of the country.
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