Buratai breaks silence on $1bn arms fund, says Defence Ministry managed procurement not him

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), says the $1bn approved for defence procurement during his tenure was released to the Ministry of Defence, not to him or the armed services, The Punch reports.

Speaking at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria conference in Abuja on Monday, he described the allegations as “political and malicious.”

“Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force. The funds were released to the Ministry of Defence, and the entire procurement process was handled by that ministry,” he said.

Buratai faulted the ministry for not explaining publicly how the funds were disbursed, saying: “Accountability must be properly located.” He recommended a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal publishing contract details within national security limits.

He added: “The military is not above the law.”