Scandal: What happened to $1b released to former service chiefs as NSA raises spectre of probe?

Of the $1 billion released to purchase arms to combat insurgency and insecurity, how much was used and where is a bulk of the weapons?

This is the question that is rattling the defence sector after seemingly innocuous comments by National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, in a BBC interview.

Sources say daggers are drawn for a battle-royale following the damning disclosures by the nation’s top security chief, who was serially spited by a former service chief.

His words: “It is not that we are not working to end the security challenge in the country. The president has done his own part and allocated huge amount of money to purchase weapons but they are yet to be here. We don’t know where they are.

“I am not saying that the past Service Chiefs have diverted the money, but presently we don’t know where the (arms) money is.”

Asked whether there would be an investigation, he said: “I am sure the President will investigate this. As I am talking to you now, even the Nigerian Governors’ Forum has started questioning where the money is. So I assure you that the President is not playing with anything that has to do with the people.

“I can’t say the money was stolen but we didn’t see anything and even the new Service Chiefs said they didn’t see the weapons. It is possible the weapons are on their way coming. Maybe from America, England and other places but as at now, I didn’t see anything and the Service Chiefs too didn’t see any weapons too.”