The Senate has invited the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, National Intelligence Agency’s Mohammed Mohammed, Adeola Ajayi of the State Security  Services and Emmanuel Undiandeye of the Defence Intelligence Agency to a closed-door meeting to investigate allegation that the United States Agency for International Development funded Boko Haram and other terrorist groups in Nigeria.

The invitation followed a motion moved by senator representing Bauchi Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, during plenary on Wednesday.

Mr Ningi said, “The Senate resolves to invite NSA, Director NIA, Director SSS and the head of NIA to a closed door session with the Senate to discuss this particular sensitive matter and any other security matter.’’.

At the inaugural hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency on Thursday, U.S. Congressman, Scott Perry, claimed U.S. aid agency, United States Agency for International Development, funded terrorist organisations, including Boko Haram.

“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,” Mr Perry noted.

The lawmaker added that U.S Congress “doubled down and spent $20 million from USAID to create educational television programs for children unable to attend physical school.”

Speaking during the plenary, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described the allegations as weighty, stating that “America is currently going through a political metamorphosis”.

Mr Akpabio stressed that the relevant security agencies should be invited to brief the national assembly before it could take steps over the allegation.

He stated, “America has not taken the allegation hook, line and sinker but is still investigating. So Nigeria must also investigate to be sure because we won’t just keep quiet. If it’s true that USAID has been funding Boko Haram, we have no business allowing them to have offices in Nigeria.’’

Thanking Senator Ali Ndume for bringing the development to the attention of the assembly, Mr Akpabio said Nigeria must hear from the country’s intelligence community to ascertain the veracity of the claim.