Ex-NSA Monguno claims Presidential cabal undermined Buhari, compromised national security

In a new biography, former National Security Adviser (NSA) Babagana Monguno has alleged that a powerful group within former President Muhammadu Buhari’s inner circle actively weakened Nigeria’s security apparatus for personal gain.

Monguno, who served from 2015 to 2023, detailed these claims in ‘From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’ by Charles Omole.

He presented Buhari and the Nigerian public as “victims of the Cabal that enriched itself beyond measure.”

A pivotal moment came when Monguno acted on a security recommendation to change the fuel supplier for the presidential air fleet, as the existing one was under investigation.

Although President Buhari approved the change, it provoked fierce backlash from key figures.

Chief of Staff Abba Kyari directly challenged Monguno, and Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, later visited Monguno’s home to condemn the move as an “injustice” to the supplier.

According to Monguno, the fallout was severe.

He claims the Finance Minister, loyal to Daura, withheld funds from the NSA’s office even after presidential approval.

This financial strangulation, he states, blinded the state by letting critical surveillance systems and international security partnerships lapse.

Monguno described a frustrating cycle where Buhari would verbally approve requests but execution was blocked by gatekeepers.

“Leave the file,” or “I’ve sent it to Malam Abba,” were common responses.

He sent over thirty reminders to no avail, leading to a “steady erosion” of national security capacity.

The institutional framework also suffered. The Special Services Office, which maintains records for the intelligence community, was sidelined, with about 20 National Security Council meetings allegedly documented by the Chief of Staff’s office instead.

Monguno also operated without a permanent secretary for 20 months due to what he called “political calculus.”

“You do not need a conspiracy to weaken a system,” Monguno concluded, “you only need petty sabotage repeated often enough.”

The allegations echo earlier reports that Monguno had become increasingly isolated and powerless during his tenure, as the president’s inner circle redefined his role.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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