Nigeria’s ex-adviser charged in $2.1b arms scandal

Nigeria’s former national security adviser pleaded innocent to embezzling $2.1 billion meant to purchase arms to fight Boko Haram, and said some of the money was diverted on the then-president’s order to try to get himself re-elected.

The former senior security official, Sambo Dasuki, said that part of the money — $47 million — was withdrawn from the Central Bank on then President Goodluck Jonathan’s orders to pay delegates to nominate him to run for re-election as his party’s candidate. (AP)