The Nigerian Army, has dismissed a media report that the
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, and his two wives joint
owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one transaction.
The report, which was published by Sahara Reports, had
claimed that the money for the purchase of the property may have come from a
vehicle contract scam while Buratai was the Director of Procurement at the Army
HQ, before his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari as COAS.
The online newspaper also alleged that the Nigerian Army had
awarded a bogus contract for the supply of vehicles and motorcycles for the use
of troops involved in an anti-terrorism offensive in Nigeria’s beleaguered
northeastern zone.
It said two irate officers has petitioned the President to
order an investigation into the contract scam.
In reaction, the Acting Director, Army Public Relations,
Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, described the allegations as baseless, stating
that it is another campaign of calumny against Buratai and his family by some
unscrupulous elements.
“It is important to know that these baseless allegations
were not new. In March this year, some groups of individuals under the aegis of
“Concerned Citizens”, tried same smear campaign to their disappoinment, it
could not fly, because it is not true," Usman said.
“Therefore, the latest round of smear campaign by this
Online Medium is one of the series of campaigns of calumny by these faceless
individuals to malign the Chief of Army Staff and the Nigerian Army. Yet,
typical of blackmailers and mischief makers despite failures, they did not give
up, hence they now found a willing accomplice reputed for muckraking like this
medium.
“The online news medium this evening (Friday) uploaded
another campaign of calumny allegedly based on a petition by obviously fake and
non-existent group it described as “Concerned Soldiers and Officers From the
North East”.
“The allegations contained in the write up are baseless and
not correct. It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai
that were paid for instamentally through personal savings three years ago.
“This, along with other personal assets have consistently
been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander
Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff.
“This, along with other personal assets have consistently
been declared by General Buratai in his Assets Declaration Form as Commander
Multinational Joint Task Force Commander and as Chief of Army Staff.
“It is pertinent to state that the Chief of Army Staff does
not have any account with Skye Bank as alleged, let alone making deposits in
the imaginary bank account to the tune of the amount stated in the write
up."
Usman further stressed that the Army General boss not been
involved in any form of shady or dishonest transaction, let alone “contract
scam.”
“In addition, General
Buratai was never near either Defence Headquarters or Army Headquarters in
2013. It is pertinent to also note that he was never a Director of procurement
in Army Headquarters as alleged. As a matter of fact, the Nigerian Army never
had a Directorate of Procurement till when he established one last year when he
became Chief of Army Staff.
“In a bid to rubbish the hard earned reputation and good
name of the Chief of Army Staff, these blackmailers will stop at nothing hence
all these kinds of mudslinging.
“It is really worrisome that some people could condescend so
low to fabricate baseless allegation against the Chief of Army Staff for
reasons that could best be described as mischievous. It is equally worrisome
that this Online Medium could lend space for this obvious mischief. We really
do not believe that it is because the price is right."
The army spokesman urged Nigerians to disregard the
"baseless and unfounded" report and the previous ones.
No comments:
Post a Comment