A Former Chief of Army Staff, Yusuf Buratai, has said that the $1bn approved for defence procurement during his tenure as Army Chief by the federal government was released to the Ministry of Defence and not the services.

Buratai disclosed that the funds, which were approved by the National Economic Council, NEC, did not pass through his hands or the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy and Air Force.

He said allegations surrounding the funds turned out to be “political and malicious,” noting that “they first emerged during the 2019 election period when the opposition alleged that the money had been diverted for electoral purposes”

Furthermore, Buratai proposed quarterly accountability bulletins summarising court-martial outcomes relating to human rights violations and operational conduct.

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