The ongoing open trial of former.Security Chiefs on corruption charges could open up Nigeria to a diplomatic row with world powers, knowledgeable diplomats have said.
In different interactions with retired diplomats on Saturday, Sunday Tribune was told that Nigeria was opening itself to possible sanctions in the way it manages classified security issues.
A former diplomat, who.retired in one of the Middle.East countries, said that Nigeria was risking huge sanctions for a breach of security standards.
Diplomatic experts said that open trial of military issues could rupture the relationships between Nigeria and the world powers.
A retired Ambassador said that the resort to open trial of security Chiefs had grave consequences.
One retired envoy said: “Recall that US for years did not want us to purchase their weapons.all foreign powers know what is playing out. They are watching.”
There are fears that such an expose by military personnel under trial will damage Nigeria’s national security architecture, especially among diplomats whose countries helped Nigeria in the war against terror.
A security source, who spoke with our correspondent, listed Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, United States, South Africa among countries which were said to have helped Nigeria in intels and even sourcing mercenaries, as well as weapons.
According to other security experts, who prayed to remain anonymous, it is against the traditional practice to put a country and its allies in an open trial where classified information on security is shared freely.”
A former Chief of Administration at the Nigerian Air Force headquarters, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Alkali Mamu, on Friday, had opened up details of how Nigeria secretely engaged foreign mercenary to fight Boko Haram insurgents during a hearing by an FCT High Court.
Mamu, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN) in a suit bordering on bribery brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said that the National Security Adviser engaged Ukrainian mercinerues to help the country fight Boko Haram.
He stated that the NSA decided to assist the Nigerian Air Force by engaging mercenaries due to what he called “the terrible performance of our armed forces at the height of the war against Boko Haram towards the 2nd and 3rd quarters of 2014.”
He told the court: “I was in Ukraine when this covert and sensitive military assignment was given to one Hima Abubakar of Societe D’Equipments Internationaux Nigeria Limited (the company EFCC said he received the bribe from) by the NSA. Abubakar identified three mercenary fighter pilots, soldiers of fortune and veterans of many wars willing to take up this job.”
He further said: “My Lord, these are matters that will expose Nigeria’s contravention of the United Nation’s Charter of armed conflicts especially Resolution 44/34.”
Diplomats, however, saud that it was wrong for Nigeria to be seen in.any form.violating well held global ethics.
“The world is watching. They are aware of what I playing out but even when they don’t speak aloud, expect the actions in due course,” another retired diplomat said.
