By Newsmata
Heads of Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies were on Wednesday summoned by the Senate in its resolve to investigate allegations made by United States Congressman Perry Scott that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had been funding terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.
The resolution followed an Order of Urgent National Security raised under Order 41 by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, representing Borno South Senatorial District.
Newsmata.com.ng recalls that Ndume, whose Borno State had been the epicentre of Boko Haram insurgency, had during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, announced that he would move a motion calling for an investigation into Scott’s allegation to ascertain its veracity.
And moving the motion at plenary, Ndume urged the Senate to take the revelation seriously given the devastation caused by terrorists, particularly Boko Haram.
He insisted that a thorough investigation would end speculation about how non-state actors have managed to survive over the years.
The heads of security and intelligence agencies summoned by the Senate include the National Intelligence Agency, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Department of State Services, and the National Security Adviser.
Endorsing the resolution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio however stressed that security matters were best handled behind closed doors. He noted that intelligence chiefs would provide the Senate with a clearer perspective in a private briefing.
Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), a co-sponsor of the motion, proposed an amendment stating that security chiefs should first brief senators in a closed-door session.
Ningi said, “At this point, whatever is written here is relevant. However, it is almost impossible to do justice to the issues raised in this motion in an open debate.
“We do not need an elaborate discussion on this matter; we need to be briefed by security agencies first in a closed-door session.
“Let’s focus on one key action — inviting the NSA, the DG of NIA, and the DSS for a confidential session with the Senate on this matter. This is their duty; this is what they are funded to do.
“With the security chiefs’ briefing, we can proceed based on the facts they provide”.