The Nigeria's Defence headquarters has debunked the rumour on the embezzlement of about $43m meant for Peacekeepers.
Read the official statement:
"The
11 July 2014 online publication by Sahara Reporters with the caption “Nigerian
Army Generals Pocketed $43m Meant For Peacekeepers”, which it attributed to an
anonymous petition it had received calls for some clarifications. It is quite
unfortunate that in total disregard for fairness and balance reportage, Sahara
Reporters has rushed to the press and proceeded to publish same without taking
necessary steps to inquire or hear from the relevant military authorities.
Again, the reference to an anonymous petition as being “powerful’ by the medium
is not only an attempt to be prejudicial, but a clear indication of bias in
favour of the authors of the spurious petition.
Perhaps
if Sahara Reporters had gone a little further towards due diligence it would
have found out that the Nigerian Army has never in any way denied that some
troops who had concluded their tour of duty in some Peace Support Operations
were yet to be fully remunerated. Nevertheless, there is no case of
embezzlement as alleged in the report.
It
is noteworthy that the long process of streamlining the procedure for securing
funds for Peace Support Operations goes beyond the Nigerian military
establishment. It involves the procedures and protocols of mission sponsoring
agencies such as the United Nations, African Union and ECOWAS among others.
It
is therefore curious that this misleading information is coming at a time when
the major issues are being resolved and payment has actually commenced on the
basis of the order of entry or exit of the various Nigerian Contingents
(NIBATTS) into the Peace Support Operations. The motive of the petitioners and
those propagating it therefore becomes more suspect as the article went further
to disparage and libel the leadership and individual officers of the Nigerian
Military. Granted that the so called “ powerful anonymous petition” on Sahara
Reporters for whatever reason could be outrightly mischievous, one must
reiterate the fact that the publishers of the petition would have done their
readers and the nation a world of good by endeavouring to seek the facts on
this issue before going ahead with the article which is apparently intended to
scandalize the Nigerian military.
It
is thus expedient to state that it is not in the character of the Nigerian Army
to toe the path of embezzlement as the said anonymous petition or its publisher
have attempted to ascribe to the leadership of the Nigerian Army or the
military as an institution.
The
Nigeria Army and indeed the Armed Forces has a functional system of check and
balance that does not permit the kind of sharp practice insinuated in the
Sahara Reporters story. The instrument of discipline provided to checkmate such
practices cannot be compromised as it forms the very foundation upon which the
military is established. Engaging in such practices irrespective of status will
naturally trigger the system of check and balance and such nefarious act cannot
go undetected.
Indeed,
if the anonymous petitioners had been a little more patient, it would have
dawned on them that the hitch in the payment of the said entitlements is not
crafted by the military authorities for usurping any gain, but only a fall out
of vital financial procedures. The authorities had actually utilized
extra-ordinary approaches to mitigate the effect.
Unfortunately,
hasty allegations such as the ones contained in the petition only serve to
generate disaffection in the system. While all officers and soldiers are
enjoined not to allow themselves to be swayed by this alarmist insinuations,
the general public is advise to discountenance the material as a misleading
remarks on actual situation in the military."
"Army don't respect Anonymous reports" Simply walk into their headquarters and accuse them of embezzlement... Orthopedic Hospital dey wait you. LOLZ
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