One of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) top shots fingered in the $2.1 billion arms deal scandal and placed under house arrest at Niger Barracks, Abuja has returned N66 million of the N90 million, allegedly traced to him, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Sunday Vanguard has reported.
The NAF chief, said to be a Principal Staff Officer at NAF Headquarters, was released from detention and asked to go and look for the balance of the money.
The move, however, was not an indication that he has been completely exonerated an EFCC source disclosed.
The newspaper gathered that the other officers being detained by the NAF High Command on behalf of the anti-graft agency were not given a similar option because they had refused to cooperate fully with the EFCC interrogation team even though some had returned exotic cars and other valuables.
It was further gathered that an Air Commodore, said to have benefitted from the arms deal and has several properties in Dubai, Kaduna and Abuja, has been arrested and is currently cooling his heels in detention.
One of the Air Vice Marshals (AVMs) in detention is said to have led the team that went to buy aircraft with incomplete parts and also inflated the price from $6million to over $30million.
Recall that the NAF high command had on Thursday, increased the momentum in its anti-corruption war with the removal of some officers including Air Officers Commanding and Principal Staff officers fingered in the arms deal, and appointed new Air Officers Commanding.
