Nigerian Army Chief Denies Embezzlement Charges

Nigeria’s the Chief of Defence Staff, General Owoye Azazi, Sunday said that the rank and file in the Nigerian military had never been denied their entitlements.

Azazi told journalists in Abuja that while it was true that payments were sometimes delayed, we ensure that everybody received his or her entitlements.

Reacting to allegations of embezzlement of entitlements belonging to the rank and file of the army, who served in peace-keeping missions abroad, Azazi said: “If you are talking of allegations, are they proven allegations? I have not seen one instance where they said soldiers’ allowances are embezzled. There could be delays, sometimes for one year.”

“It is very sad that even in the military, people accuse their commanders of embezzlement. My first priority is to send allowances to troops in foreign missions,’’ Azazi said.

Azazi, who also reacted to a recent agitation by some soldiers in Akure in southwestern Nigeria over payment of entitlements, described the incident as unfortunate.

Soldiers went on rampage in Akure in June setting up bonfires with disused tires between the Ondo State capital and Ogbese to protest alleged non-payment of their entitlements after they had served in a peace-keeping mission in Darfur, Sudan.

Source African Press Agency

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