UPDATED: I was quoted out of context, NSA speaks on missing funds
- National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno, has declared that the media quoted him out of context
- Recall that some news outlet had reported that he said some funds meant to purchase arms under the leadership of ex-service chiefs were missing
- According to him, the Buhari administration will investigate what happened to the funds
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Maj.-Gen Babagana Monguno (retd.), the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, has refuted reports that he alleged that money for the purchase of arms for the military was missing under the former service chiefs.
According to him, he was quoted out of context in the interview with the BBC Hausa service.
He disclosed this in a statement on Friday, March 12, Punch reports.
Recall that some media reported the NSA alleged that some funds have been found to be missing under the leadership of the immediate past service chiefs.
In the earlier report, Monguno said the funds were meant for the purchase of arms to strengthen the anti-Boko Haram fight.
The Punch reported that the NSA made the claim during an interview with BBC Hausa.
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Monguno was quoted to have said:
“No one knows what happened to the money but by God’s grace, the president will investigate to find out whether the money was spent and where the arms went.”
The NSA also added that the new service chiefs have not seen any of the arms that the funds were supposed to be used to procure, Daily Trust also reported.
The ex-service chiefs are Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.
Appointed in July 2015, Buratai, Olonisakin, Ibas and Abubakar were replaced in January 2021.
After their exit, President Buhari appointed the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors.
The unfolding development is reminiscent of the Dasukigate, an arms procurement deal that resulted in the alleged embezzlement of $2 billion through the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki.
The illegal deal was revealed following an interim report of the presidential investigations committee on arms procurement under the Goodluck Jonathan administration.
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Meanwhile, despite the fact that they have been confirmed by the Senate after their nomination by President Buhari, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the former service chiefs should face International Criminal Court.
The PDP who slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Senate for clearing them for ambassadorial portfolios alleged that this was done despite reports of crime against humanity committed under their command.
The opposition party added that this clearance will not stop the investigation of the accused.
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Nurudeen Lawal is a Legit.ng journalist passionate about fact-checking/verification journalism. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature-in-English from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State. As Politics Editor, Nurudeen mostly writes on Nigeria’s political and socio-economic developments. He has attended different workshops, conferences and training on fact-checking and digital reporting, among others. Learn more about him on Twitter, @Nurudeen Lawal_
Aanu Adegun also contributed to this report.
Source: Legit.ng
