Ken Saro-Wiwa brother arrested over arms deal probe

• The brother of the late Ogoni rights activist, Ken Saro-wiwa, who was executed by the Abacha’s government in connection with the Ogoni crises of the 1990’s, Major General Wiwa, has been arrested

•  The junior Saro-Wiwa, who is currently being detained at one of the major military barracks in Abuja, is a Director of Military Intelligence

• He has held positions like military assistant to late General Owoye Azazi when he served as Chief of Defence Staff.  Principal Staff Officer (PGSO), at the office of the National Security Adviser when Azazi served as NSA, and also during the era of Col Sambo Dasuki

The gale of arrests following the revelations from the trial of the ongoing arms deal probe has recorded another casualty.

According to Vanguard, Major General Wiwa who is currently being detained at one of the major military barracks in Abuja, could help unravel a lot of unclear deals involving some military and arms contractors as well as the roles of some service chiefs.

Wiwa is one of the senior army officers, acting director of army public relations, Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman recently disclosed to the media that are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for their role in the $2.1billion arms deals.

ALSO SEE: Army hands 12 officers to EFCC for investigation

According to Usman, the senior officers who were sent to the EFCC  will be tried by a military court martial if found culpable.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has made clarifications on the reason they dismissed 250 soldiers recently. According to Army authorities, the soldiers were dismissed for refusing to battle Boko Haram terrorists.

The soldiers had on Tuesday, February 9, stormed the Kaduna secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to plead for reinstatement into the Nigerian Army after being dismissed since February 1 this year.

Recall that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, recently directed all officers of the Nigerian Army who have not declared their assets to do so immediately.

The COAS gave the directive on Wednesday, January 20, during a conference with principal staff officers and directors serving at the army headquarters.