The Office of the National Security Adviser has denied reports on social media about the sack of the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ahmed Abubakar.
Naija News reports that this was made know in a statement signed on Friday by the Head, Strategic Communications, Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Usman, titled, ‘Appointment of NIA DG, exclusive prerogative of the President and Commander-in-Chief’.
While insisting that the hiring and firing of the NIA DG is the exclusive prerogative of President Muhammadu Buhari, Usman stated the appointment of Abubakar was made in full compliance with the relevant law.
He said, “the attention of the Office of the National Security Adviser has been drawn to recent reports in the social media credited to some unnamed former directors of the National Intelligence Agency over the appointment of the Agency’s Director-General.
“To set the record straight, by the provisions of the Instrument establishing the Agency under the National Security Agencies Act 1986 ( Cap 278 LFN), the appointment and tenure of the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency is the exclusive prerogative of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.”
The NSA spokesperson dismissed speculation by unnamed former directors that the National Security Adviser had told the National Assembly that he was unaware of the Director General’s appointment in 2018 is false.
While stating that the intelligence community is pleased with Abubakar, he added that his principal is also satisfied with the level of consultations between his office and the Director-General in achieving the functions of the National Intelligence Agency, “contrary to these false claims, Abubakar never failed a promotion exam and has consistently been an outstanding officer.”
Usman, therefore, warned groups and individuals who use pseudonyms to issue false claims against violating the secrecy upon which the Intelligence Community functions; saying the appropriate action is being taken to unmask them and bring them to justice.
This article was originally published on Naija News