Since the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd), dropped a strong hint that the ex-service chiefs may have squandered money meant for the purchase of arms to fight terrorists, more facts have emerged pointing clearly to misappropriation of funds.

This is even as more Nigerians have thrown their weight behind the NSA in calling on President Buhari to probe the activities of the ex-service chiefs with respect to how they spent funds allocated to the fight against insurgency.

Both the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, Coalition of Arewa Youths, Nastura Ashir Sharif, have urged presidential inquest into what they termed arms heist allegedly perpetrated by the ex-service chiefs.

Political Economist can authoritatively report that it was not only the $1billion that may have been misappropriated, it was gathered that the military high command were given N30 billion every quarter in addition to several intervention funds for operations and welfare of the military personnel engaged in the fight against insurgency.

However, available records of arms, ammunition and other military hardware showed that much of the money may have gone into private pockets.  Insiders at the Governors’ Forum confided in our reporter that most governors were miffed by the inability of the military to contain insurgency and all its associated crimes. Some governors were said to have openly voiced their displeasure at the inability of the troops to stave off terror attacks after they have committed so much in their various states plus the allocation from the federal government.

Some governors, according to our sources, were in full support of the position of the NSA whom they called the ‘conscience of the nation.’  They believe, like the NSA, that the Buhari government has funded the military well enough to the extent that by now, it should be able to deal ruthlessly with the insurgents.

Some of the concerns raised by the governors was that the impact of the $1 billion given to the former service chiefs is yet to be felt as there is nothing on ground to justify such humungous amount. Insiders said that about $600 million of the $1 billion was paid for the acquisition of Jets, even this was said to be heavily inflated by the ex-service chiefs.

The source wondered what happened to the balance of $400 million, in addition to other funds denominated in naira.

Our source said there was justification in the NSA raising his voice to ask valid questions and calling for probity at this time. On the allowances and maintenance of personnel, our source explained that under normal situation, a battalion should be a minimum of 800 troops but what we have in Nigeria is under 350 troops.

Our source wondered why the money for troops’ upkeep and allowances could not go round even with fewer men in the battalion. The source cited cases of some senior officers and young recruits who had to abandon the battle front because they were poorly equipped. Many military personnel reportedly resigned, the highest rate of resignation recorded in the nation’s military history.

It was gathered that the new service chiefs have confided in some governors that they met no modern weapons on ground and that these weapons are needed urgently if the war against terror must be won. The new service chiefs had also confided in some governors that the fault is not from President Buhari whom they agreed with the NSA has funded the military more than any other President in Nigerian history.

Security insiders said the ex-service chiefs did not act within the limits and discipline of military rules. They referred to the meetings they were holding with former Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari, describing such meetings as unprofessional and against basic military rules. The amity between the ex-service chiefs and the late Kyari was said to have set the stage for misappropriation of funds meant for the military personnel and for hardware.

On account of such unauthorized meetings and rapport between the ex-service chiefs and Kyari without the knowledge of the NSA, Monguno was forced to write a letter to the President.

Monguno, in the letter titled, ‘Disruption of the National Security Framework by Unwarranted Meddlesomeness,’ questioned the rational of Kyari convening security meetings and summoning the security chiefs as well as diplomats.

In the letter with reference number NSA/SH/600/A dated 9th December, 2019, Monguno told the chief of staff to stop directing the national security apparatus as such is undermining efforts of the executive.

The NSA also made references to SH/COS/46/2/1429/ dated 13 September 2019 and SH/COS/26/5/A//2609 dated 26 November, 2019.

“Similarly, you are reminded that the chief of staff to the president is not a presiding head of security, neither is he sworn to an oath of defending the country. As such, unprofessional practices such as presiding over meetings with Service Chiefs and Heads of security organisations as well as Ambassadors and High Commissioners to the exclusion of the NSA and/or supervising ministers are a violation of the constitution and directly undermine the authority of Mr President,” Monguno’s letter read.

“Such acts and continuous meddlesomeness by the chief of staff have not only ruptured our security and defence efforts but have slowed down any meaningful gain that Mr President has sought to achieve,” the letter stated.