Former National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno has alleged that funds approved for his office by late President Muhammadu Buhari were withheld by a cabal within the presidency. Monguno made the claims in a new book, From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Monguno, the issue followed his recommendation to change a supplier to the Presidential Air Fleet after security concerns were raised. He said Buhari approved the change, but resistance emerged from within the presidency, including then Chief of Staff Abba Kyari and Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura.
“The Minister of Finance, who owed loyalty to Mamman Daura, was co-opted to withhold funds from the NSA office even after Buhari’s approval,” Monguno said. He added that funding delays weakened national security. The book also recounts remarks by former First Lady Aisha Buhari on internal mistrust affecting Buhari’s health.