Nigeria’s former highest-ranking air-force officer has been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of funds that were meant for the fight against Islamist militia group Boko Haram.
“Former chief of air staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu has been with us since yesterday [Wednesday],” the official at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“He is being interrogated in connection with the arms deal scandal.”
On 15 January, President Muhammadu Buhari’s office released a statement saying the EFCC probe into the alleged weapons procurement fraud had been widened to include 17 former or serving high-ranking officers.
They included the former chief of defence staff, Alex Badeh, whom Buhari replaced last year, it added.
The probe would look at “the roles of the officers and the… companies and their directors in fundamental breaches associated with the procurements” by former national security adviser Sambo Dasuki and the air force, the statement read.
Dasuki is facing a series of allegations over alleged diversion of funds that were meant to purchase military equipment to help in the fight against Boko Haram.
Prosecutors allege the money was channeled to the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to fund Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign last year.
Jonathan lost the election to Buhari, who has since waged war on corruption in the West African nation.
