Investigators seize 20 exotic cars from former chief of air staff's son as Dasukigate probe continues

GOVERNMENT investigators have seized 20 exotic cars from the son of a former chief of air staff currently being investigated in the $2.1bn Dasukigate corruption scandal that saw money meant to purchase military hardware diverted into private pockets.

Over the last two years, the government has been prosecuting the government of former president Dr Goodluck Jonathan over its spending of money set aside for security in which cash set aside to fund the military was embezzled. In a scandal managed by former national security adviser Col Sambo Dasuki, money given to military chiefs to buy hardware to facilitate the war against Boko Haram went missing.

As part of the investigations, more than five properties and over N2bn have been seized from the former chief of air staff, who served in ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. Three former chiefs of air staff are facing trial over the arms procurement between 2007 and 2015.

They include Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu and Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar. They were accused of alleged fraud Badeh (N3.9bn),  Umar (N7.8bn) and Amosu (N22.8bn).

All the former air chiefs pleaded not guilty to the charges, with marshals Umar and Amosu initially opting for a plea bargain but Air Marshal Umar has reconsidered his position in an out-of-court settlement. The Presidential Special Investigative Committee, led by Air Vice Marhsal Jon Ode, uncovered the 20 expensive cars which were  believed to have been bought with Nigeria Air Force funds.

It is gathered that the former officer’s son has never worked and could not have earned so much to buy the cars found in his garage. One government source said Nigerians had not heard half of what the Ode Committee uncovered.

“In the course of the committee’s work, it was discovered that air force funds were used to buy 20 choice cars for the son of the ex-chief of air staff. All those involved had no justification for the purchase other than the allegation that the boy was a car freak.

“Air force cash was also used to buy a house for this son of the ex-air chief. All the expensive cars/SUVs and the house have been temporarily forfeited to the federal government," the source added.

He added that the young man has also been recommended for prosecution alongside his father.  Already the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is already working on it.