Tukur Buratai "I bought my Dubai property with my savings," Army Chief reacts to scam allegations

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.