THE Nigerian Army has debunked a report by an online
news medium, alleging that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General
Tukur Buratai, and his two wives are joint owners of a Dubai property
which was allegedly paid for in one transaction .
This is contained in a press statement signed by Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, Acting Director, Army Public Relations.
The statement, which also denied the allegation that the Chief of
Army Staff operates an account with Skye Bank as alleged, said the army
chief has never been involved in any form of shady or dishonest
transaction.
While noting that such baseless allegations against the army chief
was not a new development, the statement said, “In March this year,
group of individuals under the aegis of “Concerned Citizens”, tried
same smear campaign to their disappointment, it could not fly, because
it was not true. “You will recall early this week, there was similar
campaign of calumny by yet another online news medium, The Cable, in
which among other things, it alleged that Nigerian Army personnel
wounded in action were abandoned by the Army, government and the nation
which is not true.
“The online news medium this evening 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 Sahara Reporters write up
are baseless and not correct. It is a fact that the Buratai family has
two properties in Dubai that were paid for on installments through
personal savings three years ago. This, along with other personal
assets, has 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.
Similarly, he has not been involved in any form of shady or dishonest
transaction, not to talk of ‘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 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.
“Consequently, the public and indeed all well meaning persons should
disregard this round of campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army
Staff and similar ones because they are baseless and unfounded. For the
unscrupulous elements and their cohorts, these campaigns would prod the
Nigerian Army and indeed the Chief of Army Staff to continue to serve
the nation diligently and with utmost zeal.”
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