February 12, 2016•Update: February 16, 2016
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS, Nigeria
At least seven army generals and four colonels are being investigated for alleged involvement in the mismanagement of billions of dollars intended to buy weapons for the country's fight against Boko Haram.
"The Nigerian Army wishes to inform the public that 12 army officers have been sent to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for investigation," spokesman Sani Usman said in a statement Friday morning.
Usman also tweeted that the officers include three serving major generals, one retired major general, three brigadier generals and four colonels.
In August last year, President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated a 13-man audit panel to probe defense spending from 2007 to 2015 in bid to uncover the reasons behind the army lacking weapons to fight militants.
Very senior military chiefs -- including the immediate past national security adviser, chief of defense staff and chief of air staff -- have been indicted, arrested and detained in relation to the probe.
It is a first under Nigeria's democratic rule for top generals to be quizzed and detained on corruption charges.
