A retired senior officer of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General D.G. James (retd.), has dismissed allegations of systemic corruption within the military, describing them as unsubstantiated and misleading.
The former officer was reacting to a recent report by Sahara Reporters which alleged the existence of so-called “mushroom units,” inflated budgets, and widespread diversion of operational resources within the Army.
In a statement issued on Thursday, James said the claims, reportedly based on an anonymous source, lacked credible evidence and failed to reflect the operational realities of the military.
He said, “Serious allegations about personnel records, budgeting, and logistics must be backed by verifiable proof. Anonymous claims without documents or identifiable sources cannot be treated as facts.”
The retired general, who served for over three decades across the North-East, North-West, and Niger Delta, explained that the creation of new formations and task forces was a strategic response to evolving security threats, including insurgency and banditry.
According to him, operating units below full strength is not evidence of corruption but a reflection of battlefield realities such as casualties, redeployments, and ongoing expansion.
James also faulted claims that personnel were being double-counted to inflate allowances, describing the allegation as “logistically implausible” due to the Army’s centralised payroll system linked to biometric verification.
On logistics, he noted that funding challenges within the national budgeting system often affect what is eventually released to operational units, adding that commanders are frequently required to manage limited resources.
He further criticised the report’s reference to the death of a senior officer during an insurgent attack, describing it as inappropriate and disrespectful.
“It is wrong to use the death of fallen soldiers to support unverified claims. These men paid the ultimate price in service to the nation,” he said.
While calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations, the retired officer urged that any probe should be evidence-driven and not based on media reports alone.
“If there is wrongdoing, let it be exposed and punished. But the process must be fair, transparent, and rooted in facts,” he added.
James also stressed that issues relating to defence funding involve multiple
stakeholders, including the executive and the National Assembly, and should not be attributed solely to the military.
He urged Nigerians to remain cautious and demand credible evidence before drawing conclusions about the Armed Forces.
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