"Several contractors were apparently overpaid, while others were given
full upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in
force," it said.
Nigeria has
accused 300 firms and individuals, including army officers, of
embezzling 48 billion naira ($241.45 million) through overpaid defence
contracts or fraud, the presidency said on Thursday in a widening a
crackdown on graft.
President Muhammadu Buhari was
elected a year ago on a pledge to root out endemic corruption that has
held most of the 180 million Nigerians in poverty despite the country's
enormous oil wealth.
The former military ruler has fired or investigated dozens of officials serving under his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, and ordered an audit of key government bodies such as state oil firm NNPC.
"A
committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the Office of the
National Security Adviser from 2011 to 2015 has indicted more than 300
companies and prominent citizens including serving and retired officers
of the armed forces," the presidency said in a statement.
The
companies and individuals, some of which were listed in the statement,
had repaid more than 7 billion naira to the state and were expected to
return a further 41 billion naira, the statement said.
"Several
contractors were apparently overpaid, while others were given full
upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in
force," it said.
Another firm had been given
7.9 million euros ($8.83 million) and $7.09 million in overpaid
contracts, according to the statement.
One of those indicted was Sambo Dasuki, Jonathan's security adviser, the first former official put on trial for graft.
A
similar committee has accused Dasuki of fraud involving $68 million of
defence spending, part of a wider $2.1 billion in arms deals that are
under scrutiny. He has denied the charges.
Jonathan's
supporters deny that corruption spiked during his presidency and say
Buhari is conducting a witch-hunt against members of the former
president's People's Democratic Party.
($1 = 198.8000 naira)
($1 = 0.8948 euros)
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