A former Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe lbori, who not too long completed his jail term in London with the wife, Nkoyo, sister and his lawyer for money laundering was a major sponsor with the National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, during the failed Goodluck Jonathan’s led PDP administration. Ibori, who sources believed to be presently having a staled relationship with Governor lfeanyi Okowa, for him(Okowa) refusing to endorse David Edebvie who was lbori choice as the PDP’s standard bearer for 2023 governorship election was implicated in a security report with some persons as those that supplied arms to militants to bring unrest in the country years back. Lt Col Kayode Are, who was the Director – General of the State Security Service then, was also revealed among those behind the massive diversion and sales of Nigerian Weaponry to the Niger Delta militants.
The intelligence report revealed of the afformentioned persons involvement after Sonny Bowie Okay, a brother to Henry Ukah, jailed in South Africa for terrorism denounced members of his family as “killers” and vowed to destroy them, and few days after the State Security Services intercepted thirteen containers load of arms being imported into the country through the Lagos Port.
The thirty-five page intelligence report was the product of an investigation by the headquarters of the Nigerian Army lntelligence Corps following a tip off by a soldier and are flag by the SSS that army weapons were flowing from an Ordinance Deports in Kaduna and Jaji to militants.
However, Azazi, Adekhegba and Are, used their positions to sweep the matter under the carpet. Late Alamieyeseigha and lbori were named in the report as financiers of the arms deals.
The report suppressed by the military hierarchy and the Federal Government then revealed in shocking detail how Sonny Okay funneled over One Hundred Million Naira to Major Akubo and the soldiers in exchange for over Seven Thousand cache of different arms and ammunition.
Furthermore, sources within the intelligence community that have access to the report confirmed how Sonny Okah connived within seven year period with Major Akubo to move the weaponry. They would surreptitiously drive lsuzu Pick-Up Vans and Sewage Disposal Trucks into Ordinance Deports in Kaduna and Jaji to carry High -Caliber, Light Weapons and ammunition.
The report showed that Sunny Okah and Henry, his brother were acting as the Middlemen between the soldiers and the militants.
According to the report, amount of weapons removed were enough to hold the entire Nigeria hostage.
Among the weapons removed were Rocket Launchers, UMGs, GPMGs,G3,Mark 4,AK47,,and bagfuls of ammunitions.
What triggered the investigation was when a a Private in the army, Zamanu Adamu, who while on guard at the Ordinance Depot, Jaji, Kaduna in September 2007, reported that the seal on the Depot had been broken and some items removed. In its investigation the Army lntelligence Corps interrogated Sonny Okah Major Akubo and the soldiers who confessed to the crime. It was disclosed that Major Akubo was taken in by the Directorate of Military lntelligence, but was interrogated by a Ine Man Panel appointed by Adekhegba. He was curiously released to return to his unit based on instruction from Azazi, even when his involvement in the scandalous deal had been firmly established.
As at the time the arms deal started, Azazi was the GOC lst Division in Kaduuna. Investigation showed he handled the case shabbily in order to cover up his Command,s failure. In the report it was asked whether there was likelihood that the matter was shabbily handled in order that Azazi’s failure may remain undiscovered? It was also asked whether Azazi use coursemate influence on the then DG of DSS Lt Col Are(Rtd) to ensure that the case remain suppressed? Otherwise why did it take until now when Are is no longer in office for the DSS to reopen the case and be willing to cooperate fully. The report added, “General Azazi obviously has more questions to answer regarding his roles in this case”
The report fingered lbori and Alamieyeseigha as financiers of the arms acquisition. Both men, who were State Governors at that time allegedly provided the funds with which Sonny Okah went on his arms shopping spree. Major Akubo according to the report confessed to the investigator that Sunny Okah approached him in 2004 stating that lbori and Alamieyeseigha had given him a job to source for arms on their behalf.
