HEDA calls on U.S. to impose sanctions on Nigerians involved in misuse of security funds

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has submitted a petition to the U.S. Government requesting visa revocation, asset seizures, and international sanctions against several Nigerian individuals accused of diverting funds intended for security and arms procurement.

Signed by HEDA Chairman Olanrewaju Suraju, the petition was directed to the U.S. Ambassador in Nigeria and the Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation at the U.S. Department of State. HEDA urged action under Section 7031(c) of the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, as well as the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.

Suraju stated that the alleged misappropriation of billions of dollars designated for Nigeria’s national security and arms purchases has led to increased insecurity, terrorism, and human rights abuses throughout Nigeria and West Africa.

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The petition referenced the “Dasuki-gate” arms procurement scandal along with other military procurement fraud incidents, positing that the lack of proper equipment for Nigerian forces due to misused funds has allowed insurgent groups like Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) to grow. Suraju highlighted that domestic efforts at accountability have been hampered by judicial loopholes, leading to the suspension or dismissal of corruption cases on procedural grounds.

HEDA named several individuals it alleges are connected to the misappropriation of security funds, including former Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.), involved in a purported ₦22.8 billion fraud related to Nigerian Air Force funds; former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa, accused of profiting from ₦4.6 billion traced to arms procurement; and former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, charged with laundering ₦6.9 billion linked to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Additionally, the petition mentions former Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah (retd.), regarding an alleged diversion of ₦13.8 billion meant for military equipment; Major Generals Akerejola and Adereti for similar allegations; and the late Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, whose estate was associated with the receipt of ₦2.1 billion from ONSA funds intended for arms procurement.

While acknowledging that some cases ended in acquittals, paused trials, or dropped charges, HEDA contended that these outcomes were often due to procedural issues rather than actual resolutions on corruption allegations.

In its petition, HEDA urged the U.S. Government to revoke the visas of the individuals named and their immediate families, commence asset forfeiture through international cooperation, and increase financial oversight to prevent further laundering of misappropriated Nigerian security funds.

“Granting foreign visas and access to financial systems to those tied to the diversion of security funds indirectly contributes to insecurity in Nigeria. We implore the U.S. Government to uphold transparency, accountability, and human rights by preventing those who benefit from insecurity from finding refuge abroad,”  Suraju emphasized.