The Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, has refused to apologize to the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating the purchase of arms over the documents his office submitted to the panel.
In his presentation before the committee, the COAS had said the documents presented to the committee explained what the committee wanted as specified in their correspondence to his office.
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“The submission before you speaks to the report before. It is an executive summary. It is very self-explanatory to the extent that it has periodised.
“Because when you demanded for this report, you stated specific period for which you wanted this report.
“You may wish to recall that the COAS took mantle of leadership barely two months ago. The period for which you wanted this report having been summarized in the executive summary explains whatever details you would require,” he said.
The COAS asked the committee to invite the relevant individuals responsible for various arms procurement by the army.
“Issues of procurement that you demand to get to know, where run by specific individuals. I would rather prefer you call these individuals what I explained to you very specific issues.
“The general issues have been contained in the report and the executive summary is so contained. It goes to speak about the entire report and explains it,” he said.
However, some members of the committee disagreed with the COAS on the issues, saying his explanation was not satisfactory as it had not addressed the specifics.
A member of the committee said: “When we speak or ask questions, the entire Nigerian people are asking. So when you’re summoned or asked a question, it’s the Nigerian people.
“We need an apology. You just gave an explanation. This is a deal with the Nigerian people and they must be treated with some respect.”
Responding, the COAS said: “Mr Chairman, just like the last speaker said, we’re partners in progress and I believe so too. When you say I offered an explanation, it’s as good as an apology. It only tells you the reason I was not here and the reasons are cogent enough.
“Even the blind man knows there are problems of internal security in Nigeria. So, I think it suffices to explain to this honourable house my apparent inability to be here when so demanded.
“I’ve had the opportunity here I am before you. I believe we would continue to remain partners in progress and continue to work for the Nigerian people.
“The way you work for the Nigerian people is the same way we also work for I equally work for the Nigerian people.
“I command the Nigerian Army that equally peopled by Nigerians representatives from everywhere you come from”.
On his part, the Police DIG in charge of operations, Sanusi Lemu who represented the IGP, Alkali Baba, said the Ministry of Police Affairs and the Office of the National Security Adviser were the ones procuring arms and ammunitions for the police.
