Nigeria: EFCC probes Special Forces’ training in Belarus, others

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has begun investigation into all security transactions that took place under the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

ADVERTISEMENT

Investigations revealed that the 27-member task force, set up by the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, started a discreet investigation into all the operations of the former office of the ex-NSA penultimate week.


It was gathered that the current probe of the EFCC focused not only on the amount of money spent on the procurement of arms for the military but also on personnel training outside the country.

A security source said on Monday that the EFCC Task Force was probing the training of Special Forces in some Eastern European countries.

It was learnt that the operatives were probing how funds, earmarked for the training of 750 Special Forces in Belarus and other Eastern European countries, were spent.

The security operatives, who were trained specifically to raise an elite force against the Boko Haram menace, were drawn from the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Services, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

The Special Forces, who went for the training in September 2014, arrived in the country in December, 2014 and were immediately deployed in the operational areas of the North-East in March, 2015.

It was gathered that the select security personnel were trained in counter- terrorism, counter-insurgency, handling of rocket propelled grenades, machine guns and other weapons.

The source said one of the officials of the ONSA under the former NSA, was among some personnel of the office being interrogated in relation to the ongoing probe into arms procurement under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

It was learnt that the EFCC Task Force sent out letters to the affected personnel and commenced arresting them penultimate week.

The source said some of the suspects had been in detention of the EFCC for nine days.

The source added, “It is true that over 20 people have been arrested in connection with various security-related contracts awarded during the period under probe.

“They were picked up on different occasions over a week ago and have since been detained by the EFCC. Nobody knows why they are being kept for more than the 48 hours required by law.

“Another thing you must note is that the probe is touching on core security issues now. One of those detained was the person who handled the special training for Special Forces in Belarus.

“Those who were trained in Belarus were 750 security personnel selected from the DSS, the Police, the Army, Navy and the Air Force.”

The source could not give the exact amount involved in the Belarus deal.

ADVERTISEMENT

Also, the Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, told our correspondent on the telephone that he had not been briefed on the issue.

He said, “I cannot comment on this story because I have not received any briefing on it.”