Presidency silent despite sudden resignation of NIA boss

The Presidency remained silent over the sudden resignation and exit of the Director General of Nigeria’s National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Rufai, over the weekend.

Rufai announced his resignation from his position as the head of the country’s security agency tasked with overseeing foreign intelligence and counterintelligence operations on Saturday.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after submitting his resignation letter, Rufai said he resigned via a letter he tendered to President Bola Tinubu.

“I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted it. I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare, to serve two Presidents at a stretch,” Rufai said.

“I thanked him (President Tinubu) very well and promised to remain professional as we dedicate ourselves to our country and noble causes.”

“I discussed with Mr. President, and he understood very well. I promise to remain seized with issues and the security situations of the country.”

The outgoing NIA boss did not elaborate further on the reasons for his resignation. He simply mentioned, “There are quite a number of reasons, including some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, and the friendship will continue.”

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On President Tinubu’s reaction, Rufai said: “I think it’s not for me to say this, probably I’ll be breaching protocol, but maybe the NSA and/or Mr. President himself will address it. But what I can tell you is that I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity that the President gave me, the encouragement I received, and the confidence he had in me and my service. The opportunity to listen to me, read briefing notes and advice, and to mentor officers and staff for all the period I have been DG has been invaluable.”

“Being DG for seven years has allowed me to mentor younger officers, and now we have many officers who can do this job excellently well.”

Former President Muhammadu Buhari had approved Rufai’s appointment as substantive DG of the agency in 2018.

Rufai, a retired career Foreign Service officer, previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs/International Relations.

He had extensive experience working with the United Nations in peace support operations, mediation processes, preventive diplomacy, as well as the promotion of good governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights.

He also briefly served as Senior Adviser at the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) with headquarters in N’djamena, Chad, before his appointment as SSAP.

Rufai holds a B.A. degree in French Language and Literature and an M.A. degree in Francophone Maghrebian Literature, both from Bayero University, Kano. He is also fluent in English and Arabic.

It is recalled that Buhari, in 2017, directed the suspension of the former Director General of the NIA, Ambassador Ayo Oke, and ordered a full-scale investigation into the discovery of large amounts of foreign and local currencies by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a residential apartment at Osborne Towers, Ikoyi, Lagos.

The investigation sought to determine the circumstances of the NIA’s possession of the funds, how and by whom the funds were made available to the agency, and whether there had been a breach of law or security procedures in obtaining custody and use of the funds.

A three-man Committee comprising then Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and the National Security Adviser, Gen. Babagana Monguno, headed by then Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, conducted the investigation.