The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI), a non-governmental organisation on Friday commended the National Security Adviser, NSA, Major General Babagana Mongonu (Rtd) for revealing underhand dealings that has made Nigerian military lacking capacity to defeat terrorists.
The anti-corruption and accountability body in a statement made available to CAPITAL POST, which was signed by its Executive Director, Livingstone Wechie, said, the NSA has demonstrated true patriotism for speaking out on the overwhelming corruption that has been registered in the unending war against insurgency under the watch of the immediate past Service Chiefs.
“TIFPI views the action of the NSA as the highest act of patriotism for putting the overall interest of Nigeria above any political patronage.
“TIFPI also celebrates the current Service Chiefs for their show of loyalty to Nigeria by not covering up this type of wickedness that has made our gallant military a laughing stock for years running.
“According to the report monitored by TIFPI, the NSA who reportedly spoke to the Hausa Service of the BBC on Friday, 12th March, 2021, was quoted as saying thus:
“It seems the money released to former Service Chiefs by President Buhari, to buy weapons to fight terrorism, banditry and kidnapping, is missing.
“This is because the new service Chiefs have confirmed to us that they didn’t see where the new weapons was purchased in there handing over.
“Apparently the money is missing, and we must investigate”. A statement of this magnitude coming from the NSA cannot be taken lightly, but should be treated as a national emergency and an issue of urgent national importance.
“From the foregoing, TIFPI demands that the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, acting within his powers and authority vested by the 1999 Constitution as amended should take up this challenge by immediately setting up a high powered Independent Panel of Inquiry to investigate these allegations with a view to bringing all the perpetrators to justice.
“The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC is also officially demanded to immediately swing into action to investigate and unravel the whereabouts of the multi billion naira budgetary and emmergency releases made to the Nigerian Military under the management of the immediate past Service Chiefs which is not accounted for.
“These include both the procurement of hardware and software equipment and the cash allotments/disbursements made during their reign in the fight against insurgency with the Procurement Act in view.”
