The security and service chiefs are to explain the procurement and deployment of arms and ammunition in their respective agencies.

It was reliably learnt on Saturday that the House Committee on Defence has met with the Ministry of Defence on the $1bn special security fund released by the Federal Government in 2017, part of which was used to pay for 12 Super Tucano fighter jets in the United States.

Reactions had greeted the comments made by the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd.), who said during an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation on March 12 that $1bn funds meant to purchase arms to tackle insurgency during the ex-service chiefs’ tenure got missing.

However, in a statement by his office later in the day, the NSA recanted, saying he was quoted out of context. It added, “We would like to state that the NSA was quoted out of context as he did not categorically say that funds meant for arms procurement were missing under the former service chiefs as reported or transcribed by some media outlets from the BBC interview. During the interview, the National Security Adviser only reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to deal decisively with insecurity and stated President Muhammadu Buhari’s continued commitment to providing all necessary support to the armed forces, including the provision of arms and equipment.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Olaide Akinremi, at its first investigative hearing in Abuja, penultimate Friday, where the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru was represented by the Commandant, Army War College Nigeria, Maj.-Gen. Charles Ofoche had described the matter as sensitive.

Akinremi told correspondents on Friday that following the resolution of the House to look into arms purchase in the last 10 years, incumbent heads of military and paramilitary agencies are to appear before the lawmakers on Monday.

Akinremi said, “We have invited them. This time around, it is not only the Chief of the Army Staff. We invited the three components of the military – Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff. They are all coming on Monday. There are others like the Comptroller-General of (Nigerian) Immigration (Service); Commandant-General, (Nigeria Security and) Civil Defence (Corps); Comptroller-General, Nigerian Correctional Service; Comptroller-General, (Nigeria) Customs (Service); they are also coming.” “We are going to investigate the matter. As a matter of fact, we are also planning to summon the ex-service chiefs”

The committee had the same day vowed to investigate the “missing” arms and ammunition for which the former service chiefs were allocated funds to acquire.

This came over a month after the ex-Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.), and the service chiefs resigned their positions and were replaced by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

The ex-service chiefs are the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.); Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (retd.); and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.).