Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd.), has clarified that the $1 billion approved for arms procurement in 2019 was released to the Federal Ministry of Defence and not directly to the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force.
Buratai made the clarification on Monday, October 12, 2026, while speaking at the Defence Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DECAN) conference in Abuja.
The former army chief said the funds, approved by the National Economic Council (NEC) during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, did not pass through his hands or the accounts of any of the three military services.
According to him, the Ministry of Defence handled the entire procurement process, including the management and disbursement of the funds.
“The $1 billion was approved by the National Economic Council, NEC, 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 surrounding the funds as “political and malicious,” explaining that they first emerged during the 2019 election period when opposition figures alleged that the money had been diverted for electoral purposes.
Buratai said although the Federal Government had publicly refuted the allegations at the time, the controversy continued to affect the reputations of military service chiefs.
He criticised the Ministry of Defence for failing to publicly provide a detailed account of how the funds were disbursed and how procurement contracts were awarded.
“The ministry, since then on its own, had not publicly explained how the funds were disbursed or contracts awarded. Accountability must be properly located,” he said.
The retired general called for greater transparency in defence procurement, recommending the establishment of a dedicated online portal where information on contracts, contractors and delivery timelines could be published, subject to national security considerations.
He also proposed quarterly accountability reports on court-martial proceedings involving human rights violations and operational conduct, provided such disclosures did not compromise ongoing military operations or the rights of accused personnel.
On allegations of human rights abuses by security personnel, Buratai maintained that credible complaints should be investigated and prosecuted where evidence substantiates the claims.
“The military is not above the law,” he said.
His remarks have renewed attention on the controversy surrounding the $1 billion arms procurement fund and calls for greater accountability in the management of public funds allocated to national security.
The former army chief’s clarification places responsibility for explaining the disbursement and use of the funds on the Ministry of Defence, which he said managed the procurement process.
