SaharaReporters has obtained documents relating
to a scandalously inflated $500 million defense
contract that President Goodluck Jonathan
awarded to Arthur Eze, a Nigerian businessman with
a shady past, a close friend of the president and his
wife, and a major financier of the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
Our security sources said some officers of the
Nigerian Air Force (NAF) were furious over the jumbo
contract described by one source as “a pure waste.”
The sources, most of them military personnel, told
our correspondent that, in addition to its sheer
extravagance, the contract has also saddled the
Nigerian military with helicopters that have limited or
no combat utility.
The documents obtained by our correspondent
reveal that Mr. Eze, the chief executive of Triax,
received the gigantic sum of $466.5 million in order
to weaponize six Puma helicopters with the aid of an
Israeli company named Elbit Systems. This meant
that each weaponized helicopter cost close to $78
million. “For the price of each helicopter provided by
Engineer Arthur Eze, the Air Force could have
acquired seven top grade military helicopters,” said
one of our sources.
Our sources also noted that the haste with which the
contract was initiated, approved and executed raised
serious questions. A memo dated November 20, 2014
and submitted by the Chief of Air Staff, A.N. Amosu,
revealed that Mr. Eze had on November 4, 2014
submitted a proposal to the office of the National
Security Adviser proposing to supply the upgraded
helicopters to the NAF. The tone of Mr. Eze’s letter,
obtained by us, indicated that he was deeply involved
in sourcing and supplying hardware to the Nigerian
military as it is embroiled in a fight against Boko
Haram militants.
An Air Force officer said he was alarmed at the
alacrity with which Mr. Eze’s overinflated proposal
was approved by the NSA’s office. The NAF followed
with an equally quick endorsement sixteen days later.
One of our sources accused President Jonathan and
Mr. Eze of using the refusal of the US to sell Cobra
attack helicopters to Nigeria as an excuse to engage
in a large-scale squandering of funds involving the
Federal Government and Mr. Eze’s company, the
Triax Company Nigeria Limited. “In the US, a brand
new AH Cobra attack helicopter costs around $12
million each,” said a source at the NAF. He added:
“That means that, with $400 million, Nigeria could
have purchased up to 40 brand new helicopters.”
According to the source, the Cobra attack helicopter
is one of the best US-made helicopters. “It is highly
effective in the battlefield. It would have given us big
battlefield advantage over Boko Haram,” he said.
In an additional proposal, Mr. Eze’s company sought
to purchase 4,000 57mm S5 rockets, 400 80mm S8
rockets, 500 general-purpose bombs, and 20,000
units of unguided rockets. His company also received
a contract to refurbish three C-130 planes that had
been sitting at the hanger of the Nigerian Air Force
for several years.
A final invoice Mr. Eze submitted to the Nigerian
government showed that he would receive $466,
500,000 to supply six upgraded Puma helicopters,
four units of single-seater Sukhoi Su-25K (“Frog-foot”)
Soviet-made ground attack jets, and two upgraded
Su-25UB trainers for $330 million. In addition, he
would receive $14 million for the shipping of
platforms/ground support/line replacement of the
six Puma helicopters; $44 million for some arms and
ammunition earlier proposed; $37 million for the
maintenance of C-130 engines, and $40 million for
unspecified armaments for the NAF.
Our military sources stated that Mr. Eze’s invoice for
the supply of the refurbished aircraft was massively
inflated by international and Nigerian standards.
Several of the sources said Triax delivered the
substandard equipment after Mr. Eze further padded
the cost of the refurbished helicopters and the C-130.
The sources revealed that, since February 15, 2015,
when Chief of Air Staff Amosu showed off the
helicopters and C-130 planes, none of the aircraft has
been deployed even once to fight Boko Haram
militants. “They are not in any combat-ready
condition,” one officer fumed. “We are looking at a
total waste of money for no good reason.”
SaharaReporters could not ascertain from Mr.
Amosu whether the Air Force had taken delivery of
the other items listed on the invoice Mr. Eze had
signed and submitted to the NSA’s office.
Mr. Eze’s partners in the defense deals is Elbit
Systems, an Israeli company that has been involved
in several scandalous defense contracts in Nigeria,
including a multimillion dollar internet spying
project.
Our sources wondered why the Nigerian
government, which is in a critical stage of counter-
insurgency operations against Islamist group Boko
Haram, would strike such an overinflated deal with
Mr. Eze’s firm to purchase antiquated helicopters and
other equipment that were virtually discarded by
Romania.
One clear answer may be found in the fact that Mr.
Eze is one of the biggest personal financiers of Mr.
Jonathan’s re-election. The businessman, who also
controls huge interests in oil fields both in Nigeria
and other West African countries, has been funneling
millions of dollars into Mr. Jonathan’s campaign, said
an insider PDP source. The businessman is extremely
close to Mr. Jonathan and is reportedly well liked by
First Lady Patience Jonathan because of his lavish
presents to her, including million dollar gifts.
Mr. Eze is a big-spending billionaire who is an expert
at ingratiating himself with those in power. During
the brutal dictatorship led by the late General Sani
Abacha, Mr. Eze became one of the closest
confidantes of the general and his wife. He received a
huge windfall when Mr. Abacha handed him the $120
million contract for rural electricity and water
projects in the southeastern states. Even though the
contract sum was borrowed from the African
Development Bank, Mr. Eze pocketed the money
without doing any of the projects, a scandal that led
to the firing of the bank’s chief executive.
At the height of Mr. Abacha’s repression, Mr. Eze
used to fly traditional rulers from the southeast on
frequent visits to pledge loyalty to the dictator in
Abuja. The Triax executive even stated once that he
would go into exile if Mr. Abacha gave up power to
an elected government.
Mr. Eze warmed his way to President Olusegun
Obasanjo. As Mr. Obasanjo sought to change the
constitution to extend his tenure, Mr. Eze was a
vociferous supporter of the scheme.
His closeness to President Jonathan and his wife has
brought him more riches through inflated contracts
and great political clout. At the urging of Mr.
Jonathan and his wife, the PDP national headquarters
in Abuja allowed Mr. Eze to determine most of those
announced as winners of PDP primaries for Federal
legislative seats in the southeast, but especially in his
home state of Anambra. In most cases, the
businessman’s candidates were declared winners of
primaries that were either not held or were heavily
manipulated.
http://saharareporters.com/2015/03/10/how-jonathan-awarded-500-million-defense-contract-arthur-eze-purchase-refurbished

I weep for Naija!

I have to digest this b4 i kan comment...

All Nigerians wake-up wherever you are for #change#! Buhari and Osinbajo. Can change this country and Nigeria will be better again. Yes he can do it. Don't let people deceive people party, deceive you.They are coming again!!! Shine your eyes well, OJB, called them hawks that surround GEJ, Its has been proven that we are not moving forward for past 6 years now, all what they do is to recycle themselves and continuity embezzlement of Nigerians money. You can see for yourself, people deceive people PDP party, that is their mentality. They said Buhari will take us back if elected President! Nigerians say it's a good decision to go back when you've lost your way on a 6 years. PDP journey where our destination as a nation is no longer visible. Please, Buhari, take us back to the era where:1. One Dollar was less than one Naira. It is incredible today!2. Everything was on first come first serve basis.3. There was zero tolerance for corruption.4. Oil refineries in PortHarcourt, Warri & Kaduna were built & running at full capacity.5. Anybody with questionable wealth was afraid to display it in public. 6. There was Zero tolerance for indiscipline. Everything was in order7. Nigeria had no debt at all.8. Neglecting your children was a crime9. Littering the public place was a crime10. Twenty oil depots were built and functioning.11 Western world can't interfere into our nation.12. Chad invaded Nigeria, we sent them packing but did not harness their Land13. Our economy was NOT running on generator14. We can sleep with our eyes closed because we were secured.15. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia need not to set example on how to deal with drug pushers. 16. The Maitaseine Islamic Sect insurgency in the North was crushed on record time. 17. We want those days when Buhari was a military Governor but did not amass illegal wealth. 18. We want those days when Buhari was a Minister of Petroleum but did not hire a private jet for N10 billion. 19. We want those days when Buhari was a Head of State but did not loot the Treasury. 20. We want those days when Buhari was Head of PTF but did not steal the Fund even in the days of Abacha when stealing was the order of the day. Pls, Buhari & Osinbajo, take us BACK! We can't afford another 4yrs of waste in the hands of PDP!!! Take us BACK to the good old days of this our great nation. #ihavedecided to vote for #change#

Saharareporters claims the Helicopters recently up-graded have never been used since the 15th of February.


On the day, AS Super-Puma, Gazelle helicopters were commissioned into service.


In the video and photos, we can all see the Super Puma and Gazelle helicopter in the North-East.

Also look at the serial number, NAF 565 commissioned in lagos in the channels T.V cut, and a clear photo of NAF 565 in maiduguiri.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaY3veJg7gs&sns=em



Watch towards the end of this video, you would see the Gazelle Helicopter landing after a Recon mission in maiduguiri Airport.

Oxone:
I weep for Naija!

You should instead save your tears and weep for people like buhari who deliberately under-equipped the Nigerian military.


A fraudster masquerading as a saint.

thats transformation

vanilson:
All Nigerians wake-up wherever you are for #change#! Buhari and Osinbajo. Can change this country and Nigeria will be better again. Yes he can do it. Don't let people deceive people party, deceive you.They are coming again!!! Shine your eyes well, OJB, called them hawks that surround GEJ, Its has been proven that we are not moving forward for past 6 years now, all what they do is to recycle themselves and continuity embezzlement of Nigerians money. You can see for yourself, people deceive people PDP party, that is their mentality. They said Buhari will take us back if elected President! Nigerians say it's a good decision to go back when you've lost your way on a 6 years. PDP journey where our destination as a nation is no longer visible. Please, Buhari, take us back to the era where:1. One Dollar was less than one Naira. It is incredible today!2. Everything was on first come first serve basis.3. There was zero tolerance for corruption.4. Oil refineries in PortHarcourt, Warri & Kaduna were built & running at full capacity.5. Anybody with questionable wealth was afraid to display it in public. 6. There was Zero tolerance for indiscipline. Everything was in order7. Nigeria had no debt at all.8. Neglecting your children was a crime9. Littering the public place was a crime10. Twenty oil depots were built and functioning.11 Western world can't interfere into our nation.12. Chad invaded Nigeria, we sent them packing but did not harness their Land13. Our economy was NOT running on generator14. We can sleep with our eyes closed because we were secured.15. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia need not to set example on how to deal with drug pushers. 16. The Maitaseine Islamic Sect insurgency in the North was crushed on record time. 17. We want those days when Buhari was a military Governor but did not amass illegal wealth. 18. We want those days when Buhari was a Minister of Petroleum but did not hire a private jet for N10 billion. 19. We want those days when Buhari was a Head of State but did not loot the Treasury. 20. We want those days when Buhari was Head of PTF but did not steal the Fund even in the days of Abacha when stealing was the order of the day. Pls, Buhari & Osinbajo, take us BACK! We can't afford another 4yrs of waste in the hands of PDP!!! Take us BACK to the good old days of this our great nation. #ihavedecided to vote for #change#

GOD bless you brother I am tired, everyday I read the newspaper or blogs and nairaland my heart shakes in fear because of the kind of headlines I see. We need change fast

Henry120:


You should instead save your tears and weep for people like buhari who deliberately under-equipped the Nigerian military.


A fraudster masquerading as a saint.

As usual you let your diarrhea of the mouth get the best of you without meaningful contribution to the thread in question

SMH!

Nice...

Military contracts have benefited the big guns in Nigeria , both Hausa and yourba got heavy military contracts in the past , now Arthur eze got his own and you're here screaming foul play, even america give out give out huge defense contracts. Pls go and find work to do.