Lt. Col. David Ahangba,
a former special assistant to late National Security Adviser General Owoye
Azazi, has been courtmartialed for illegally receiving the sum of N150million
from the Bayelsa State government. He is telling the court it belonged to
his former boss, who was killed in an air crash last year.
Ahangba
faces four counts of receiving the money after he suggested a project to
officials of Bayelsa State Government, the money for which would be used to
induce General Azazi to assist Timipriye Sylva’s second term bid as governor.
The
court martial is being presided over by Brig. Gen. EO Nze (N/7920).
Members are: Col PS Obaje (N/9383); Col. AOI Kalejaiye (N/9422); Col. GA Nosike
(N/9629); and Col. MB Akilu (N/9647). The Judge Advocate is Capt. CW
Okonkwo (N/12289) while the Waiting Member is Col. CA Thomas (N/9616).
Ahangba
joined General Azazi’s staff when the latter became Army Chief of Staff in
2006, at the General’s request, and was assigned to engineering services,
principally construction and maintenance of Azazi’s properties in Bayelsa,
Abuja, Lagos, supervision of other projects, and liaison with dignitaries.
He also liaised with the Joint Task Force headquarters to secure helicopters to
fly the late General and to arrange hotel accommodation.
According
to Ahangba, it was in that connection that during preparations for the wedding
of General Azazi’s son in September 2011, he was instructed by his boss to act
as a liaison to Governor Sylva. In a subsequent meeting in Bayelsa, the
governor spoke of his political travails and discussed his desire to meet with
the General to discuss a way out.
Following
that meeting, General Azazi told Ahangba to stand by as someone would bring the
sum of N150m, about which he would receive further directives. When the
funds were brought by an unknown person the following day, there were deposited
in a First Bank Account of Roberta Nig. Ltd, which had been opened at the
instructions of General Azazi.
Our
source said, “Prior to the opening of the account, monies given to Lt. Col.
Ahangba by the late General for projects or deposits were deposited in the
Colonel’s salary account but due to the fact that the amounts were huge sum of
money and for security purposes (to protect the Colonel from questions by
operatives which could link the late General), the General directed that the
company account be opened. He further directed that the Colonel open a
domiciliary account. These accounts were basically operated for the purpose
stated above. It is to be noted that the company account was opened without the
coordination/direction of the Colonel as staff of First Bank merely collected
his details and specimen of his signature and the opening was in his absence.
During cross-examination, it was revealed that the Colonel had no option to the
opening of the account as he acted on the instruction of the General.”
The
source further disclosed that while in Lagos, the sum of N68million was
received on the Lt. Colonel’s behalf. Following General Azazi’s
instructions, three further Union Bank account numbers were forwarded for the
money to be lodged in. The late General further informed him that the
total sum of N83million was forwarded to him as against the N150 million
because N67million was forwarded to one of his engineers for investment in his
estates in Abuja. The total sum of money received by the Colonel was released
from the accounts as directed by the late General.
Just
three months after the money was first received, that is, in December 2011),
Ahangba was discreetly informed by the General that “very serious” trouble
relating to the late General’s career and personality was brewing and needed to
be tactically checked, and that Ahangba was the only person who could bail him
out.
The
general then revealed to the Colonel that the deal with the Bayelsa governor
had leaked to the presidency and the General was accused of working with the
opposition and had collected money from them. It would be recalled that
Governor Sylva was locked in a battle for the governorship with President
Jonathan who reportedly wanted him out.
“The
late General informed the Colonel of the blue print on how to resolve the
trouble, which involved the Colonel making a written statement in the house of
the late General and under his directions. The statement was collected by the
General and taken to Abuja to be submitted as an official report of the conduct
of Lt. Col. Ahangba. He was assured that the was required to give the statement
a face lift and to further buttress this point, he called officials of Bayelsa
State and directed them to prepare contract papers to cover the deal,” our
source revealed.
These
manoeuvres were still on, with Ahangba summoned to Abuja for a provost martial
interview.
In
the meantime, Sylva lost his bid for a second term as governor. General
Azazi then lost his position as the National Security Adviser, and was killed
in a helicopter crash last year.
According
to our source, during cross-examination at the commencement of trial, Colonel
Ahangba had reneged from the blue print by declaring that the statements he
made were not voluntary and of his own accord. General Azazi however
assured him again and instructed him to withdraw from the position taken to
which the trial-within-trial was discontinued.
It
is to be noted that he was initially requested by the Nigerian Army to return
the sum of N83million to the Government of Bayelsa State through the Nigerian
Army, while no allegation was made against him.
CHARGE AGAINST LT. COL. AHANGBA
COUNT
1:
Statement
of Offence:
Conduct
to the prejudice of service discipline contrary to and punishable under Section
103(1) AFA (Armed Forces Act) CAP A20.
Particulars
of Offence
In
that you, on or about October 2011, pursuant to 2011 gubernatorial elections of
Bayelsa State, at Bayelsa Government House Yenagoa, suggested a project and
received a sum of One Hundred and Fifty million Naira (N 150,000,000.00) from
the officials of Bayelsa State Government to the effect that it would be used
as an inducement and influence on the then National Security Adviser(NSA)
General Patrick Owoye Azazi to assist Governor Timipriye Sylva by causing the
voters in the NSA’s community to vote in support of the said governor’s second
term bid as Governor of Bayelsa State.
COUNT
2:
Statement
of Offence
Obtaining
money by false pretence contrary to Section 419 CC (Criminal Code) CAP C38 LFN
2004 and punishable under Section 114 AFA LFN.
Particulars
of Offence
In
that you, on or about October 2011, at Yenagoa Bayelsa State, fraudulently
obtained the sum of about One Hundred and fifty Million Naira (N150,000,000.00)
from Bayelsa State Government under the false pretence that it would be used in
executing community development projects at Foutorugbene, Ogbotubo,
Toro-Ndoroand Amabulou communities of Bayelsa State prior to the 2011 Bayelsa
State gubernatorial elections.
COUNT
3:
Statement
of Offence
Disobedience
to standing orders, that is Cap 24:02 of HTACOS (Officers) 2012 (revised),
contrary to and punishable under Section 57(1) of the AFA (Cap A20) LFN 2004.
Particulars
of Offence
In
that you, on or about October 2011, at Bayelsa State, engaged in a private
business by proposing a contract to Governor Timipriye Silver of Bayelsa State
and receiving a sum of One hundred and Fifty Million (N 150,000,000.00)
from the officials of Bayelsa State Government as a consideration for this said
contract, contrary to Chapter 24:02 of HTACOS (Officers) 2007 (revised by
HTACOS 2012) which prohibits commissioned offices engaging in private business
or trade.
COUNT 4:
Statement of Offence
Conduct
to the prejudice of service discipline contrary to and punishable under section
103(1) AFA CAP A20.
Particulars
of Offence
In
that you, on or about October 2011, received a sum of about One Hundred and
Fifty Million Naira (N 150,000,000.00) from the officials of Bayelsa State
Government in the name and on behalf of the then Security Adviser (NSA),
General Patrick Owoye Azazi for the benefit of his community without informing
the NSA.
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