The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Attahiru Ibrahim on Monday, said that past army chiefs should be invited to explain arms procurements made under their watch.
Ibrahim said this at a public hearing organised by the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee investigating procurement of arms and ammunition for the Nigerian Army and paramilitary agencies in the country.
Ibrahim said that an executive summary of all documents requested for by the committee had been provided.
He said the documents were self explanatory, urging the lawmakers to invite former chiefs for further details on the matter, noting that he only came into office two months ago.
The committee was constituted to investigate the purchase of arms and ammunition by the military and paramilitary in the country.
The officer had earlier on March 12, March 22 and April 7, failed to appear before the committee in person to explain procurement made by the army.
Ibrahim explained that he would have earlier appeared before the committee but for exigencies in trying to secure Nigeria.
Earlier, the Chairman of the committee Rep. Olaide Akinremi (APC-Oyo) said that the committee had been expecting the COAS.
Akinremi said the COAS was supposed to be at the hearing by 2.30pm but he kept calling to explain why he was not able to meet the schedule.
The chairman said that letters had been written to the COAS asking for arms procurement documents from the army.
He said some were submitted a month ago while some were only given to the committee shortly before the hearing.
Rep. Ejiro Ogene (PDP-Delta) frowned at the COAS explanation for not appearing before the committee.
According to him, this is the house of the Nigerian people, everybody in public office work for Nigerians and this is the house that speaks for the people.
“When we ask you to come, the people are the ones speaking, sovereignty lies in the people; if we see it like this, things will be different.
“I expect that the COAS tenders an apology not an explanation; you are serving the people and they are your employer,” he said.
Rep. Samson Okwu (PDP-Benue) said that the house had taken pains to summon the President to appear and explain security issues.
“We have taken the pain to summon the President; we have seen how you command the troops in the theater of war but when we call you here, you should be civil.
“You should not be referring us to those who have left, you worked under all these people and we have powers to invite anybody.
Rep. Bede Eke (PDP-Imo) said that the lawmakers were out to partner with the military to find solution insecurity in the country.
According to him, COAS cannot come here and tell us how to do our job, if we deem it fit to invite anybody, we will.
He moved that the documents brought by the COAS be presented under oath in line with parliamentary practices.
The rep. also said that the COAS should speak to the documents after which lawmakers would ask him questions as it was the tradition of the house.
However, as tensions were rising, the committee chairman, however, ruled that hearing goes into close-door and the media were asked to leave.
Briefing newsmen after the closed-door, Eke said the committee was on track to unearth the truth.
He said the COAS asked for more time to enable him provide further details which the committee graciously granted.
He said more agencies would appear before the committee and that they were still expecting the Central Bank Governor to appear.
