Former Nigerian official charged in $2.1bn Arms Scandal

Nigeria's former national security adviser is charged with 19 counts of money-laundering and breach of trust connected with the disappearance of $2.1 billion meant to buy arms to fight Boko Haram, said ABC news Monday.

Charged Monday alongside retired Col. Sambo Dasuki at the Federal High Court is his former finance director Shuaibu Salisu. Both men pleaded innocent.

But, according to an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Salisu has said he collected $47 million stuffed into 11 suitcases from the Central Bank at night and delivered it to Dasuki's home last year. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to reporters.

President Muhammadu Buhari has said thousands of people died because Nigerian troops were not equipped to defend them.

Sources: MENA