The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Maj Gen Attairu Ibrahim appeared before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating arms procurement.
The appearance caused a standoff between the Army Chief and the Committee members, as the latter refused to apologize over his inability to attend prior invitations.
It would be recalled that the Committee had summoned the COAS and the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the 22nd of March and the 7th of April respectively.
Read Also: INVESTIGATION: National Assembly Summons IGP Over $1bn Arms Deal
During his appearance on Monday, the COAS said he was unable to make it to the summons due to different engagements over internal security.
He also refused to speak on the report he submitted to the committee.
“An explanation is as good as an apology. Even a blind man knows that there are internal security challenges in the country. The same way you work for the people, that is the same way I work for the people. I have a command under me and they are also Nigerians.
On the report, he said the executive summary should suffice. This position angered some members of the committee who argued that he should speak under oath.
Bede Eke, a member of the Committee asked the “COAS to speak on the record, to be sure that it emanated from the office of the COAS.”
Meanwhile, The House of Representatives ad hoc committee, investigating the $1billion arms procurement deals has summoned the Acting Inspector General of Police, Usman Akali Baba.
Olaide Akinremi (APC) led committee summoned the newly appointed IGP on Tuesday.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operation, Sanusi Lemu had appeared before the committee. He apologized for the inability of the IGP to attend the session.
Lemu said the IGP was unable to attend because he is still “new to the office.” He noted that it “was not deliberate to ignore the invitation of the lawmakers.
“I want to apologize for the inability of the IGP to be here, it was not deliberate. He is still new in the office. That is why he was not chance to be here,” DIG Lemu said at the hearing.
The decision to launch the investigation followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Bede Eke.
The investigation into the arms procurement is causing a showdown between the committee and officials of Central Bank of Nigeria and the military.
Both the military and the CBN have failed to appear before the committee. However, they are due to appear before the committee today.
The Committee in its 22nd of March sitting summoned the Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attairu and CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
It would be recalled that the two officials were billed to appear On the 7th of April, 2020. They, however, failed to appear before the committee.
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