The United States has firmly denied any claims that its foreign assistance to Nigeria has been diverted to Boko Haram, reiterating its commitment to counter-terrorism efforts in the country.

Speaking to journalists after a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), US Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard M. Mills, Jr., on Wednesday night in Abuja dismissed concerns that American aid may have been misused or fallen into the hands of the terrorist group.

Recall that a US Congressman, Scott Perry had accused the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) of funding global terrorist groups like the Islamic State of West Africa Province (I SWAP), and al-Qaeda, including their local affiliates such as Boko Haram in Nigeria.

He had said that the US aid agency funded terrorist organisations including Boko Haram.

Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made the claim during the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last week.

 

However the US ambassador to Nigeria dismissed the claims. “There is absolutely no evidence that I have seen that US assistance funding has been diverted to Boko Haram,” he stated.

 

The ambassador emphasised that strict policies and oversight mechanisms are in place to prevent any misappropriation of funds. “Whether it comes from USAID, the Department of Defense, or the State Department, our assistance programmes are closely monitored to ensure they are not exploited by terrorist groups,” he explained.

 

According to him, the US government has designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation since 2013, a move that enables Washington to block the group’s financial transactions, arrest its members, and enhance intelligence-sharing with Nigeria.

 

Ambassador Mills reassured that the United States remains a steadfast partner in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism.

 

“If we ever had evidence that funding was being diverted to Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate alongside our Nigerian partners,” he added, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to ensuring that US aid reaches its intended recipients.

 

“We stand with Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram and remain committed to helping the country rid itself of this scourge,” Ambassador Mills affirmed.

 

Addressing concerns about US assistance to Nigeria, the ambassador clarified that while the new US administration has implemented a 90-day pause on foreign assistance, no cuts have been made.

 

“This is not about ending foreign aid to partners like Nigeria, but about making it more effective and aligned with US government policies,” he said.

 

He reassured Nigerians that life-saving assistance—such as support for HIV patients, child nutrition, and aid for internally displaced persons—will continue under special waivers, stressing that the final decision on the future of US assistance will be made after the 90-day review period.

 

The ambassador also outlined four key priorities for US-Nigeria relations. These priorities, he said, will guide US engagement with Nigeria in the coming years.

 

Ambassador Mills emphasised the need to improve the business environment to encourage greater trade and investment between both nations.

 

“We want to see more trade between the United States and Nigeria, with more investment on both sides,” he said.

 

The second priority, he noted, is a renewed focus on transparency and accountability in governance, with the US supporting Nigerian voices advocating for reforms.

 

“We want to fight corruption and empower those calling for more transparency,” he added.

The US government is also keen on strengthening engagement at the subnational level by working more closely with state and local governments.

 

Ambassador Mills pointed out that Nigeria’s evolving governance structure, including a Supreme Court ruling that could grant local governments greater fiscal authority, presents an opportunity to provide capacity-building support.

 

“We believe that the most effective government is the one closest to the people,” he explained.

 

The final area of focus is the sustainability of US-supported healthcare programmes in Nigeria.

 

Ambassador Mills highlighted the success of initiatives such as HIV/AIDS treatment and polio eradication, but stressed the importance of transitioning these programmes to full Nigerian government control.

 

“We want to ensure these programmes remain sustainable and effective as they are handed over at both the federal and state levels,” he said.

The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, has said there is no evidence that the United States Agency for International Development is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group.

Mills stated after meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday night that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence more strongly than the US.

He assured all that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it.

Recall that on February 13, Congressman Scott Perry accused USAID of funding terrorist groups, including Boko Haram.

Boko Haram is a terrorist group founded in 2002 by Mohammed Yusuf. The group’s objectives included promoting Sunni Islam and eliminating Shia Islam in Nigeria.

Over the years, thousands of Nigerians have lost their lives, billions of Naira worth of property has been destroyed, and many families have been displaced.

Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, made this statement during the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.

The session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.

“Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding,” he said.

As a result, the Senate has called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, along with the heads of the National Intelligence Agency and the Defence Intelligence Agency, to address allegations of terrorist funding involving USAID.

In response to a question, the US Ambassador stated that the US has strict policies to prevent USAID or any other US assistance from being diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

He stated, “Let me be clear—there is no friend of Nigeria stronger in condemning Boko Haram’s violence and disregard for human life than the United States. We have designated Boko Haram as a foreign terrorist organisation since 2013, blocking the group from transferring assets to the US and allowing us to arrest and seize its members.

“We cooperate in investigations with the Nigerian government. I can assure you that we have strict policies and procedures to ensure that USAID funding or any other US assistance, whether from USAID, the Department of Defence, or the State Department, is not diverted to terrorist groups like Boko Haram.

“There is absolutely no evidence of such diversion, and if we ever had evidence that any programme funding was being misused by Boko Haram, we would immediately investigate it with our Nigerian partners.

“So, when it comes to Boko Haram, the United States stands with Nigeria in wanting to rid this country of the scourge that this organisation represents.”

He clarified that President Donald Trump’s administration did not cut assistance but implemented a 90-day pause to develop ways to make it more effective.

Mills explained, “No assistance has been cut yet, and no decisions have been made about the future of our assistance. In fact, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has said that this is not about ending foreign assistance to our partners like Nigeria. It’s about making our assistance more effective and aligning it with US government policies and interests.

“That’s what this 90-day pause is for. However, there are waivers for life-saving assistance, such as support for HIV patients, maternal and child nutrition, and internally displaced people. So that continues. In 90 days, we will know where we stand.”

Regarding other issues discussed with the 36 state governors, the US Ambassador mentioned that he outlined the embassy’s vision for the future of the US-Nigerian relationship.

He stated, “I explained to them that we are going to focus on four key priorities in the coming years. The first is improving the business environment to increase trade and investment between the United States and Nigeria.

“Second, a renewed focus on improving transparency and accountability in Nigeria, fighting corruption, and empowering Nigerian voices advocating for more transparency.

“Third, we want to be more engaged at the subnational level, at the state level, and with local governing authorities. I believe the embassy needs to engage more in this area as we develop our programs and assistance.

“Lastly, we discussed our health care programmes, which are a large part of US assistance to Nigeria. As these programmes succeed—such as reducing HIV cases and eradicating polio—we want to ensure their sustainability and transition them to the Nigerian government at the federal and state levels.”

Mills stated that the aim is to ensure the sustainability of these health programmes and transfer them to the Nigerian government for effective management, helping to create a stronger healthcare future.

Embattled U.S. music mogul, Sean “Diddy” Combs is fighting back against evidence prosecutors are expected to use against him at his criminal trial in New York in May.

Diddy’s legal team said on Tuesday in a filing in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York that his attorneys have reviewed nine videos of “so-called ‘Freak Off’ tapes” provided by prosecutors in New York regarding a person referred to as “Victim-1.”

The filing sought to obtain electronic copies of the videos, which Combs’ attorneys said “confirm Mr. Combs’ innocence” between “fully consenting adults in a long-term relationship.”

A source familiar with the case said Combs’ legal team can view the videos only “in the presence of a government representative and can see them but cannot keep them.”

The document also said the recordings were not part of the raids conducted on Combs’ properties last year but were kept by “Victim-1” and provided to the government as part of its criminal investigation.

“Moreover, contrary to innumerable sensationalistic media reports, the videos do not depict sex parties,” the document says.

“There are no secret cameras, no orgies, no other celebrities involved, no underground tunnels, no minors, and not so much as a hint of coercion or violence.”

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney declined to comment.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Combs was charged in September with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He has pleaded not guilty and is being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial, scheduled for May 5.

The fallout for Combs began in November 2023 when his ex-longtime girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, accused him in a lawsuit of physical and sexual assault and sex trafficking.

It was in the lawsuit that the alleged “freak offs,” or sex parties, were first mentioned.

Ventura and Combs settled for an undisclosed amount.

Months later, CNN published a security video of Combs brutally kicking, punching and dragging Ventura in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.

He apologised for the incident on social media and said, in part, “My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”