Missing $1b Arms Funds: Nigeria Has Been Swindled, Says PDP

*What Monguno said about weapons cash

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday branded the alleged
missing $1billion arms procurement funds a swindle.

The party in a statement on its Twitter account @OfficialPDPNig
asked the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, who
made the allegation, to “commence a system wide investigation as
well as place certain @OfficialAPCNg leaders and their cronies in
the Presidency under watch to ensure that none of them escapes from
the country to evade justice.”

The opposition party claimed that the allegation “goes to
further validate the anxieties in the public space that the money,
which was in 2017 sneaked out from the national coffers without
appropriation, has since been diverted to private purses.”

It claimed that Presidency officials “have been struggling to
divert attention from this huge swindle by claiming that the money
was spent for the purchase of 12 Super Tucano planes, which it also
claimed would be delivered in 2020 only for the NSA to now declare
that the entire fund cannot be traced.”

It added: “Four years down the line, nobody has seen the Super
Tucano planes and no explanation has been given by the @MBuhari
Presidency over the whereabouts of the money.

“Our party recalls how, instead of offering explanations when
the issue was first raised in July 2019, the @MBuhari Presidency
resorted to hauling insults on the @OfficialPDPNig and other
patriotic citizens, while making hollow, disjointed and
uncoordinated claims, which the NSA’s assertion has now exposed to
be lies and fabrications.”

It said stealing money meant for purchase of arms to protect the
people is an unpardonable sacrilege.

“Perhaps this could be part of the reason the @MBuhari
administration and the @OfficialAPCNg leadership of the @NGRSenate
hurriedly conferred diplomatic immunity to the erstwhile service
chiefs, under whose command the humongous sum grew wings.”

The PDP said President Buhari, as the commander-in-chief, “must
take the full responsibility of explaining the whereabouts of the
money as the buck stops only on his table.”

It also called for a joint public hearing of the National
Assembly to investigate the whereabouts of the $1bn as well as
other monies meant for security purposes.

The NSA had said on Friday that he was quoted out of context on
the matter.

His office said Munguno did not categorically say that monies
meant for arms procurement were missing under the former Service
Chiefs.

It said: “We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of
context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms
procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as
reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC
interview.

“During the interview, the National Security Adviser only
reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively
with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued
commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces,
including the provision of arms and equipment.

“In the interview, the National Security Adviser clearly
informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous
resources for arms procurement but the orders were either
inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the
funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.

“The NSA also informed the reporter that Mr President is
following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts
relating to military equipment, in most cases the process involves
manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may
change delivery dates.”

What NSA Monguno said on money voted for arms by
Buhari

Below is the transcription of what Monguno said in the
interview:

“On the banditry, we didn’t say we wouldn’t discuss… some
respected leaders have recommended some options towards
resolution

But how come you couldn’t address insecurity in the country?

Not that we couldn’t address the insecurity. The President had
done his best in providing adequate resources and a huge amount of
money but the (arms) equipment were NOT Bought and have NOT
ARRIVED… Now the president has brought in new people (Service
Chiefs) maybe the new people will bring in new strategies.

I am not necessarily saying the immediate past service chiefs
stole the money… But the money somehow went through some channels
which I don’t know and many others do not know too as of NOW.

Has the government investigated what happened to the (arms)
money?

I strongly believe the President will investigate…. As I am
talking to you right now, some governors under the forum have
started complaining about the release of billions for arms
purchase. I must assure strongly that the president would not take
it light on issues of that magnitude that would affect the welfare
of the citizens.

From all indications, does it mean they have stolen money meant
for arms (An ci kudin Makamai, the same phrase use to attack
previous government especially referred to as Dasukigate)

I can’t say so now since there is no any proper investigation as
of now. The only thing I can say is that the money is (Sun
Salwanta) missing. The equipment weapons are yet to be seen and the
new service chiefs said sincerely that they haven’t seen the
equipment which they (former service chiefs) claimed they bought.
Probably some of them may be coming from America, England from
everywhere. BUT AS IS IT NOW on the ground, I didn’t see them and
they (Service Chiefs) didn’t see them too.

No arms fund missing under my stewardship, says
Buratai

The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai
(rtd), responding through his counsel, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, denied
that any arms procurement funds went missing during his tenure.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to an interview granted
BBC by National Security Adviser (NSA), RTD Major General Babagana
Monguno, wherein he was alleged to have accused former service
chiefs of filtering ARMS Fund away,” the statement reads.

“I can confirm that Lt. General Buratai and other ex-service
chiefs were never mentioned in the interview and neither was any
arms fund missing under the stewardship of Lt. Gen T.Y.
Buratai.

“Interestingly, NSA Babagana Monguno has denied making such
accusations. We, therefore, urge members of the public to
discountenance any such misquoted narrative suggesting sleaze on
the integrity of Rtd Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai.

“Anyone interested in knowing how arms were procured by the
ex-service chiefs and particularly Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai should
channel such request for information to the Ministry of
Defence.”

*What Monguno said about weapons cash

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday branded the alleged
missing $1billion arms procurement funds a swindle.

The party in a statement on its Twitter account @OfficialPDPNig
asked the National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno, who
made the allegation, to “commence a system wide investigation as
well as place certain @OfficialAPCNg leaders and their cronies in
the Presidency under watch to ensure that none of them escapes from
the country to evade justice.”

The opposition party claimed that the allegation “goes to
further validate the anxieties in the public space that the money,
which was in 2017 sneaked out from the national coffers without
appropriation, has since been diverted to private purses.”

It claimed that Presidency officials “have been struggling to
divert attention from this huge swindle by claiming that the money
was spent for the purchase of 12 Super Tucano planes, which it also
claimed would be delivered in 2020 only for the NSA to now declare
that the entire fund cannot be traced.”

It added: “Four years down the line, nobody has seen the Super
Tucano planes and no explanation has been given by the @MBuhari
Presidency over the whereabouts of the money.

“Our party recalls how, instead of offering explanations when
the issue was first raised in July 2019, the @MBuhari Presidency
resorted to hauling insults on the @OfficialPDPNig and other
patriotic citizens, while making hollow, disjointed and
uncoordinated claims, which the NSA’s assertion has now exposed to
be lies and fabrications.”

It said stealing money meant for purchase of arms to protect the
people is an unpardonable sacrilege.

“Perhaps this could be part of the reason the @MBuhari
administration and the @OfficialAPCNg leadership of the @NGRSenate
hurriedly conferred diplomatic immunity to the erstwhile service
chiefs, under whose command the humongous sum grew wings.”

The PDP said President Buhari, as the commander-in-chief, “must
take the full responsibility of explaining the whereabouts of the
money as the buck stops only on his table.”

It also called for a joint public hearing of the National
Assembly to investigate the whereabouts of the $1bn as well as
other monies meant for security purposes.

The NSA had said on Friday that he was quoted out of context on
the matter.

His office said Munguno did not categorically say that monies
meant for arms procurement were missing under the former Service
Chiefs.

It said: “We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of
context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms
procurement were missing under the Former Service Chiefs as
reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC
interview.

“During the interview, the National Security Adviser only
reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively
with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued
commitment to provide all necessary support to the Armed Forces,
including the provision of arms and equipment.

“In the interview, the National Security Adviser clearly
informed the BBC reporter that Mr President has provided enormous
resources for arms procurement but the orders were either
inadequate or yet to be delivered and that did not imply that the
funds were misappropriated under the former Service Chiefs.

“The NSA also informed the reporter that Mr President is
following up on the procurement process as is usual with contracts
relating to military equipment, in most cases the process involves
manufacturing, due diligence and tedious negotiations that may
change delivery dates.”

What NSA Monguno said on money voted for arms by
Buhari

Below is the transcription of what Monguno said in the
interview:

“On the banditry, we didn’t say we wouldn’t discuss… some
respected leaders have recommended some options towards
resolution

But how come you couldn’t address insecurity in the country?

Not that we couldn’t address the insecurity. The President had
done his best in providing adequate resources and a huge amount of
money but the (arms) equipment were NOT Bought and have NOT
ARRIVED… Now the president has brought in new people (Service
Chiefs) maybe the new people will bring in new strategies.

I am not necessarily saying the immediate past service chiefs
stole the money… But the money somehow went through some channels
which I don’t know and many others do not know too as of NOW.

Has the government investigated what happened to the (arms)
money?

I strongly believe the President will investigate…. As I am
talking to you right now, some governors under the forum have
started complaining about the release of billions for arms
purchase. I must assure strongly that the president would not take
it light on issues of that magnitude that would affect the welfare
of the citizens.

From all indications, does it mean they have stolen money meant
for arms (An ci kudin Makamai, the same phrase use to attack
previous government especially referred to as Dasukigate)

I can’t say so now since there is no any proper investigation as
of now. The only thing I can say is that the money is (Sun
Salwanta) missing. The equipment weapons are yet to be seen and the
new service chiefs said sincerely that they haven’t seen the
equipment which they (former service chiefs) claimed they bought.
Probably some of them may be coming from America, England from
everywhere. BUT AS IS IT NOW on the ground, I didn’t see them and
they (Service Chiefs) didn’t see them too.

No arms fund missing under my stewardship, says
Buratai

The immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai
(rtd), responding through his counsel, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, denied
that any arms procurement funds went missing during his tenure.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to an interview granted
BBC by National Security Adviser (NSA), RTD Major General Babagana
Monguno, wherein he was alleged to have accused former service
chiefs of filtering ARMS Fund away,” the statement reads.

“I can confirm that Lt. General Buratai and other ex-service
chiefs were never mentioned in the interview and neither was any
arms fund missing under the stewardship of Lt. Gen T.Y.
Buratai.

“Interestingly, NSA Babagana Monguno has denied making such
accusations. We, therefore, urge members of the public to
discountenance any such misquoted narrative suggesting sleaze on
the integrity of Rtd Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai.

“Anyone interested in knowing how arms were procured by the
ex-service chiefs and particularly Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai should
channel such request for information to the Ministry of
Defence.”