Buratai’s Role In Arms Deal Scandal – Nigerian Army Speaks Out
25th Jan. 2016
The Nigerian army has reacted to the allegation of the involvement of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai into the $2.1bn arms purchase scandal.
Colonel Sani Usman, acting director army public relations, has issued a statement today, January 25.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently directed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe retired and serving officers of the Nigeria air force and Nigerian army.
A group known as Save The Nation Movement questioned why President Buhari didn’t include Buratai’s name into the list.
Buratai was said to be the director of procurements between 2012 and 2015.
The army in the statement called the STNM a group of blackmailers and mischief makers.
Usman said: “The Nigerian army has noted with dismay the attempt to rubbish the hard earned name and reputation of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai and the Nigerian army by a faceless group that called itself Save the Nation Movement (STNM) through orchestrated campaign of calumny in the media.
“The public will recall our earlier warning of this type of campaign of calumny against the Nigerian army and the Chief of Army Staff. This has reared its ugly head again. Unfortunately, the movement could not get their facts right as has always been the case with people with dubious intents.
The army’s spokesperson stated that contrary to group’s mischief, Buratai was Director of Procurement at Defence Headquarters from March 2014 to May 2015, not from 2012 to 2015 as was said.
The statement further reads: “Furthermore, there is the need to educate the ignorant group that, Defence Procurement in Nigeria is decentralised each Service is responsible for its procurement. It is advisable for the group to look elsewhere if they want to attack the Chief of Army Staff. For the avoidance of doubt, the Chief of Army Staff has never been involved in any questionable act throughout his career as military officer let alone when he was at the DHQ.
“As a matter of fact, the Chief of Army Staff has always been a reference point in exemplary conduct, probity and integrity. It is on record that he voluntarily declared his assets both as Commander MNJTF and as Chief of Army Staff. In addition, he has directed all Nigerian Army officers to do so. One wonders what the faceless groups motive is and why they are in a hurry to rubbish the good name of the Chief Army Staff and the Nigerian Army, when there is a Presidential Panel already working selflessly. Why is the group trying to jump the gun. Let these mischievous elements which Steven Chilaka represents, allow the Panel to discharge its duties dispassionately as it is doing.
“It is advisable also that the faceless group should get their facts right and not just merely speculate or disturb us with their wishful thinking. They should further understand that whatever mischievous intentions they have against the Chief of Army Staff and indeed, the Nigerian Army, both would not be deterred, we shall remain focused and never to be distracted. Consequently, the public is please requested to disregard the so called Movements evil machinations which would surely fall back on them.”
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