By Gideon Njoku
One of Nigerian Army’s finest, Brigadier General Charles Nengite, has been arrested by security personnel. Presently, he is allegedly in detention.
His arrest, according to reports, may not be unconnected with the ongoing financial probe at the NDDC.
President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the setting up of an Interim Management Committee at the NDDC, and ordered a forensic probe into the affairs of the Commission.
The NDDC was set up to massively develop the poverty-stricken, infrastructure-starved oil rich Niger Delta.
Sadly, the Commission turned into a cash cow for politicians and their cronies, and made billionaires out of thousands of them while the region suffered criminal neglect.
General Nengite’s arrest was triggered by the United States which, allegedly, discovered millions of dollars in his wife’s bank account. Asked to explain how she accumulated so much, she was unable to do so, the report stated.
Based on that, it is reported, US anti-graft agencies tipped off its Nigerian counterpart.
Her husband, Brig. Nengite, was, therefore, invited for questioning. He was subsequently, allegedly, arrested and detained.
Nengite’s troubles is suspected to have started when he was seconded to the NDDC between 2016 and the outgoing 2019. He was there under the administration of Nsima Ekere and Nelson Brambaifa. Nsima, a former Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor held sway at the Commission until he quit to fly APC’s governorship flag during the 2019 General election.
If Nengite is indicted, it will be a huge loss to the Nigerian Army and an end to a brilliant career.
Nengite was the best overall graduating officer at the Nigerian War College in his set at the elite College.
