Mr Tukur Buratai, former Chief of Army Staff has reacted to the allegations by Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari, that funds funds meant for the purchase of weapons to fight insurgency had been diverted.
Monguno had told the BBC that the funds were missing because the newly appointed Service Chiefs did not meet the arms supposed to have been procured with the funds.
Following viral media attention to his BBC interview, he retracted the report, saying he was misquoted.
However, reacting to the reports, Buratai has directed all questions regarding arms purchase to be channelled to the Ministry of Defence.
A statement signed by his lawyer, Osuagwu Ugochukwu reads: “My attention has been drawn to an interview granted BBC by National Security Adviser (NSA), RTD Major General Babagana Monguno, wherein he was alleged to have accused former service chiefs of filtering ARMS Fund away.
“I can confirm that Lt. General Buratai and other ex-service chiefs were never mentioned in the interview and neither was any arms fund missing under the stewardship of Lt. Gen T.Y. Buratai.
“Interestingly, NSA Babagana Monguno has denied making such accusations. We, therefore, urge members of the public to discountenance any such misquoted narrative suggesting sleaze on the integrity of Rtd Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai.
“Anyone interested in knowing how arms were procured by the ex-service chiefs and particularly Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai should channel such request for information to the Ministry of Defence,” Buratai stated.
