In a recent legal development, the contentious arms procurement transactions during the previous administration of Goodluck Jonathan have resurfaced in a United States courtroom. This legal battle involves a dispute between a citizen of Niger Republic, Hima Aboubakar, and a US arms dealer named Ara Dolarian, revolving around a contract valued at $246 million.
Initiated in 2014 amid the intensifying Boko Haram insurgency, the contract entailed the purchase of weaponry and equipment, including helicopters, bombs, and ammunition. However, the deal collapsed in 2015, with the arms never reaching their intended destination. Subsequently, Aboubakar filed a lawsuit against Dolarian in a Californian court, alleging fraud. He claimed that Dolarian failed to deliver $8.6 million worth of bombs and rockets to Nigeria, tarnishing his reputation as a reliable arms supplier to the Nigerian military.
In response, Dolarian asserted that he was unwittingly entangled in a “money laundering scheme,” contending that Aboubakar’s arms funds were unlawfully obtained from the Nigerian government.
Transparency International, a prominent anti-corruption organization, has labeled corruption within Nigeria’s defense procurement sector as “the new diesel for Nigeria’s kleptocrats,” estimating that over $15 billion has been misappropriated. This embezzlement has severely hampered the Nigerian military, leaving it inadequately equipped, poorly trained, and under-resourced.
The Nigerian military, however, has refuted Transparency International’s allegations, with Major General John Enenche, the Director of Defence Information, dismissing the report as a “sweeping allegation.” Enenche asserted that the defense ministry now exclusively engages in government-to-government deals, eliminating the use of contractors.
A significant aspect of the legal dispute involves Societe d’Equipments Internationaux (SEI), a company allegedly implicated in the $2.1 billion arms scandal. Court documents indicate SEI’s involvement in purchasing helicopters from Dolarian at inflated prices, raising concerns about irregularities and fraud.
Former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.), currently faces charges related to the misappropriation of the $2.1 billion arms fund, including allegations of breach of trust, money laundering, and illegal arms possession. Dasuki stands accused of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving the awarding of “phantom contracts” for personal and political gain.
Despite the legal turmoil, Aboubakar maintains that his company continues to collaborate with the Nigerian Army, disregarding allegations of impropriety.
This ongoing legal battle underscores the challenges and complexities surrounding arms procurement and corruption within Nigeria’s defense sector, highlighting the need for transparency, accountability, and rigorous oversight in future transactions.
