close
Tuesday, March 23, 2021

$1bn Arms Purchase: Reps summon CBN gov, army chief

National Security Adviser had in an interview with BBC Hausa suggested that the $1billion meant for the purchase of arms was diverted by former military chiefs.

• March 22, 2021
CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and Chief of Army Staff, Ibrahim Attahiru

The House of Representatives has summoned the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Ibrahim Attahiru to unfailingly appear before the house latest April 7.

The House ad-hoc committee in charge of reviewing the purchase, use, and control of arms, ammunition, and related hardware by the military in a tweet on Monday said the call became necessary over failure to honour earlier invitation in connection with $1 billion approved by the federal government for the arms to fight insurgency.

The committee noted that the money had been approved and released during the tenure of the immediate past service chiefs, but had rumours that the money can not be traced.

The tweet stated that the House of Representatives had earlier invited Mr Emefiele, the COAS, several other security agency heads and ministries to appear on Monday, March 22.

But, Mr Emefiele and the army chief who were to lead in addressing the committee on Monday, did not show up.

In April 2018, the immediate past Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali, announced that President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of $1 billion for the purchase of arms to fight insurgency in Nigeria.

National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno, in an interview with BBC Hausa said the $1billion meant for the purchase of arms was diverted, Peoples Gazette reported.
Mr Monguno had debunked the statement, saying he was quoted out of context, The Gazette also reported.

More from Peoples Gazette

Mele Kyari

Economy

How NNPC ruined Port Harcourt refinery: Kyari

“What we are seeing today is the cumulative effect of our lack of doing proper maintenance over a period of time.”

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor

States

We’ve chased away pirates from Nigerian waters: Gen. Irabor

“In the last three months or so, there had never been a single case of piracy recorded within Nigerian waters.”

Governor Bello Matawalle

Politics

Gov. Matawalle heads Zamfara procurement to prevent corruption

“The bureau for public procurement is basically aimed at addressing public concern on the poor level of transparency.”

Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State

Politics

Sovereign Yoruba nation, call to ‘assured annihilation,’ says Akeredolu

“We will not be led to assured annihilation by anyone or a group of people, still smarting from the electoral defeats.”

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello

States

Violent acts attract life imprisonment in Kogi Assembly’s VAPP Bill

The bill also recommends life imprisonment for “aiding and abetting same for the actual offender, upon conviction.”

Zainab-Ahmed

Economy

Nigeria, others won’t benefit from $13 trillion investment without financial transparency: ECA

“It will not come if Africa does not put together a better transparency package, better transparency on the illicit financial flows.”