$1bn Arms Fund Went to Defence Ministry, Not Military — Buratai

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has denied handling any part of the controversial $1 billion defence procurement fund approved in 2019, saying the money was released to the Federal Ministry of Defence rather than the military services.

Buratai spoke on Monday at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference in Abuja, where he addressed allegations surrounding the fund approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) under former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the money did not pass through his hands or the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force, insisting that the Ministry of Defence handled the procurement process.

“The $1 billion was approved by the National Economic Council for defence procurement. Not a single dollar of that fund passed through my hands or through the accounts of the Nigerian Army, Navy, or Air Force,” Buratai said.

He described allegations that the money had been diverted for political purposes as “political and malicious”. According to him, the claims emerged during the 2019 general election, when opposition figures alleged that the funds had been diverted for electoral purposes.

Buratai said the Federal Government had publicly rejected the allegations at the time but argued that the controversy continued to affect the reputations of military service chiefs.

He faulted the Ministry of Defence for failing to publicly provide a detailed account of how the funds were disbursed and which contracts were awarded.

The retired general called for accountability to be directed at the institution responsible for managing the money. He proposed establishing a Defence Procurement Transparency Portal to publish information about contracts, contractors and delivery timelines, subject to national security restrictions.

He also recommended quarterly accountability bulletins covering court-martial outcomes, human rights violations and operational conduct, where disclosure would not compromise ongoing operations or the rights of accused personnel.

Buratai said credible allegations of human rights abuses should be investigated and prosecuted where supported by evidence, stressing that the military must remain accountable under the law.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Ahmed Lawan called for a dedicated percentage of national revenue to be allocated to the Armed Forces and other security agencies to support the purchase of equipment and military platforms.

The controversy over the $1 billion fund has renewed calls for greater transparency in defence spending. Buratai’s account places responsibility for explaining the fund’s disbursement on the Ministry of Defence, although his statements do not independently establish how the money was ultimately spent.