WITH investigations of Air Force officers allegedly involved in economic and financial crimes in the management of personnel finances and the purchase of arms for the prosecution of the war against insurgency concluded, the Federal Government is now shifting attention to Army and Naval Officers who may have been involved, it has emerged in Abuja.

Already, Defence sources said government dragnet may spread to include army and naval officers who were involved in alleged shady practices.

It is believed that a panel from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno, may begin to invite former army service chiefs, retired generals, serving top and retired army officers to explain their roles in some of the questionable deals before the panel.

The panel sourced its materials from petitions as well as reports of experts on financial expenditure and procurement within the military establishment itself.

A source said yesterday evening that past service chiefs in the Army, like the Air Force may not escape indictment and subsequent arraignment “after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) goes through the report of the panel. It was like a free-for-all binging that involved the procurement of arms, ammunition, and money meant for men on the ground. It was a cesspit of corruption.”

Others however fear that the on-going probe that appears to declare persons guilty before they face a court of law would not augur well for morale of officers and men, even though some within the system applaud the government move because they were shut out and watched their colleagues live like kings.

Last week, President Mohammadu Buhari forwarded the names of retired and serving Air Force officers to the EFCC for more investigation following the report of the same panel put together by the NSA Major General Babagana Monguno on 18 senior military officers, some retired others still in service.

According to information sourced by The Guardian, in July 2010 the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) under its then CAS Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin revealed at the 46th anniversary celebration, that it has now taken delivery of all 15 of new Chinese-made F-7 combat aircraft. The new fleet comprises 12 CAC F-7NI combat aircraft and an additional three FT-7NI trainer aircraft, which will replace the existing MiG-21 ‘Fishbed’ fighters that were grounded for several years at the time.

By 2014 then CAS Amosu had said new procurements were made including the King Air 350, Mi- Series Helicopter Gunship, UAVs and DA-42 Diamond Aircraft.

These among others are the procurements that are being looked into.