The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ali Ndume, has said the operations of the United States Agency for International Development, in Nigeria is suspicious....Read Full Article >>➤
The former Senate Chief Whip stated this on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise News programme, Prime Time. Ndume’s comment comes days after US Congressman Scott Perry, representing Pennsylvania, had alleged that USAID had been funding terrorist organisations globally, including Boko Haram.
Perry recently made the allegation at the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering Government Efficiency, while the US Congress was already investigating Perry’s claims.
Ndume, while speaking, highlighted the gravity of Perry’s allegation, saying that it came at a time when the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, had also warned that Boko Haram terrorists were being trained and funded by international organisations.
He said the operations of the US agency should be thoroughly investigated because that they don’t allow the host country to carry out oversight.
He said, “They come under the pretense of helping when you are in dire need so you don’t have the right to question any suspicions. Stopping their funding is our opportunity to investigate.”
Speaking further, Ndume said the Nigerian military and security agencies are handicapped because they can’t question USAID’s activities.
“Security agencies or the federal government do not have the backing or right to question the activities of international organisations,” he added.
PUNCH Online reports that the Nigerian Senate has summoned top security chiefs for a closed-door session over the allegation that the agency has been funding Boko Haram activities in the country.
The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, along with Directors-General of Department of State Services, National Intelligence Agency, and Defence Intelligence Agency, will appear before the Senate to provide explanations regarding the claims.
The decision was taken during plenary on Wednesday after a motion moved by Ndume and co-sponsored by five other senators.
In a related development, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said there is no evidence that the USAID is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group.
Mills stated after meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday night that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the US.
He assured all that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it. ...Read Full Article >>➤
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