…Says Funds Never Passed Through Army Accounts, Calls Allegations ‘Political and Malicious’
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), has said the $1bn approved for defence procurement during his tenure was released to the Ministry of Defence, not to him or the Nigerian Army.
CDA News Nigeria gathered that Buratai clarified on Monday at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference in Abuja, where he delivered a lecture themed “Beyond Kinetic Warfare: Harnessing Technology and Intelligence-Led Operations for Nigeria’s National Security”.
He described the allegations surrounding the funds as “political and malicious,” saying they first emerged during the 2019 election period when the opposition alleged that the money had been diverted for electoral purposes — a claim the Federal Government publicly refuted at the time
“The $1 billion was approved by the National Economic Council for defence procurement. Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force. The funds were released to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by that ministry,” Buratai stated.
He said the Army, Navy, and Air Force never had a single dollar from the fund to make procurement directives, adding that the “stain remained, attached to the Service Chiefs rather than the institution that managed the funds”.
Buratai faulted the Ministry of Defence for failing to publicly explain how the funds were disbursed or how contracts were awarded, insisting that “accountability must be properly located”.
He recommended the establishment of a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal to publish broad categories of contracts awarded, contracting entities, and delivery timelines, subject to national security considerations
“When the media asks where the money went, the answer should come from the ministry that spent it, not from military officers who never touched it,” he said.
The controversy dates back to March 2021, when then-National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd.), alleged that funds meant for arms procurement under the former service chiefs were missing. Monguno later recanted the claim, and the Presidency said no funds were missing.
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