Dozens of army officers fired over corruption

LAGOS, (AP):

Nigeria is firing dozens of senior officers accused of corruption and the theft of billions of dollars meant to buy arms to fight the Boko Haram Islamic insurgency, the army and an officer privy to the list said yesterday.

The officer said more than 50 officers have been sacked. He spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the matter is sensitive and he was not authorised to speak publicly.

Army spokesman Colonel Sani Kukesheka Usman said only that "quite a number" was sacked last Friday, mainly major generals, brigadier generals, colonels, lieutenant colonels and one major.

Some already have been handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly diverting billions meant to buy weapons, Usman said in a statement.

PARTISAN ROLES

Others were found to have played partisan roles in the 2015 elections in the south of the country that favoured former President Goodluck Jonathan. He lost to former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari, who made fighting endemic corruption and Boko Haram cornerstones of his campaign.

Usman did not name those fired.

Among officers on trial for corruption are two former chiefs of defence staff.