Army Dismissed Senior Officers for Not “Helping” APC – PT

An investigative report published by online news medium, indicates that there may have been more reasons for the dismissal of 38 army officers in June, than was officially given according to a report on   Premium Times.

In June, the army announced the dismissal of the 38 senior army officers, over their alleged involvement in partisan politics and roles played in the $2.1bn arms procurement scandal.

A portion of the statement released by army spokesman, Col SK Usman had read:

“Those retired were mainly some Major Generals, Brigadier Generals, Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels and a Major. Their retirement was based on Service exigencies. It should be recalled that not too long ago some officers were investigated for being partisan during the 2015 General Elections.”

The statement added that; “similarly, the investigation by the Presidential Committee investigating Defence Contracts revealed a lot. Some officers have already been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

The new report by Premium Times however alleges that many of the army officers who were laid off on June 9 were merely suspected of failing to cooperate with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to garner votes in the 2015 elections.

A military source is said to have told the medium that in one instance, Major TA Williams (N/11469); and Lt Col A Mohammed (N/10659), both attached to the 195 Battalion, Agenebode, Edo State, were said to have been flushed out because of complaint of not cooperating with the APC, brought against them.

The source however said Mr Mohammed was away in the North-East at the time and played no role during the election. Yet he was retired. Premium Times also reports its correspondents sighted documents showing the officer was in the northeast at the time.

APC officials in Rivers state were also said to have accused four officers attached to the 332 Air Defence Regiment (B. Odiankpa – N/10417) and 5 Battalion, Elele (A.S. Mohammed -N10662); 2 Brigade Garrison, Port Harcourt (A.Adimoha – N/10421); 29 Battalion Port Harcourt (T.O. Oladuntoye (N/10338) of aiding the PDP in the state.

According to Premium Times, the said officers accused of partisanship, were however not queried or investigated before they were asked to forced to leave the army.

A former Commanding Officer, 93 Battalion, Takum, O.C. Egemole (N/10423), who was also compulsorily retired, was allegedly also accused of “not doing enough” to avert APC loss in Taraba State. He was also said to have neither been queried nor investigated.

Seven colonels on the list of the compulsory retirees reportedly also had no formal charge issued to them and did not they face any panel before they were laid off.

C.K. Ukoha (N/10319) was said to have been in Abuja during the elections, according to Premium Times investigation but was accused of taking part in electoral fraud in Benin and was retired.

Col T Minimah (N/10185), brother to former Army Chief, Kenneth Minimah, was also removed from his post in Benin and retired under similar circumstances.

The Nigerian Army has denied any wrongdoing and has urged the aggrieved officers to challenge their dismissal through the appropriate channels.