Army General sacked over role in 'rigged' governorship election

The Nigerian Army fired Momoh following the the report of a military panel that investigated the unethical conduct of officers and soldiers during state's gubernatorial election. The report indicted him and other soldiers.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, in Washington DC, United States, during the just-concluded Nuclear Security Summit.

READ: Tope Aluko reveals how Fayose rigged Ekiti elections

The panel, chaired by Major General Adeniyi Oyebade made“far-reaching recommendations” meant to assist the army in future involvement in civil elections.

Before arriving at the recommendations, the panel spoke to 62 officers, over 100 soldiers and 62 civilians.

It recommended the compulsory retirement of two officers from the army and that three officers should lose their commands while another officer was recommended for prosecution for collecting financial gratification.

The panel further recommended the placing of 15 officers on watch list while nine others were to be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) for further investigations following allegations of corruption against them.

It also recommended that six officers should face an audit committee and advised that 62 officers (mostly of the rank of Majors-below), should be given letters of displeasure and to appear before their respective General Officers Commanding for counselling.

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The Army constituted the panel after the release of a video recording by Captain Sagir Koli, from its Intelligence Corps, showing actions by his commanding officer (Mr Momoh) and top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration to rig the June 21, 2014 election in Ekiti State.