N600m Arms Fraud: FCC Arrests AVM Atawodi, Ex-Chairman Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety
Adetokunbo Fakeye
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested Air Vice Marshal, Salihu Atawodi (retd), former chairman presidential implementation committee on marine safety over what a source at the Commission describe as a case of conspiracy, abuse of office and misappropriation of public funds.
Atawodi allegedly abused his position as chairman of presidential implementation committee on marine safety to defraud the Nigerian government to the tune of over N600m through dubious contract to procure military boats.
NigerianEcho learnt, he awarded the contract to one Alhaji Rabiu’s Hypertech Nigeria Limited and fully paid but the boats were never supplied
It was further learnt that the contract award process violated the Procurement Act.
AVM Atawodi who has been on the radar of the anti- graft agency since 2013, was quizzed for several hours on Wednesday, December 2015, after he responded to the invitation extended to him. He arrived the headquarters of the Commission at about 11am.
EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the retired AVM interrogation at the Commission, adding that he is assisting the investigators.
