The legal advisor to former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.), Barrister Ugochukwu Osuagwu, has described as “false, concocted and malicious” the report that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) uncovered billions of cash meant for purchase of arms and ammunition in the Abuja home of Gen. Buratai.
A press statement issued Friday by the legal advisor, the report published Thursday claimed that the amount was meant for the purchase of arms and ammunition to fight Boko Haram.
According to Osuagwu, ICPC is not investigating the serving ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
He said no such amount (N850 million or any similar sum) was found with Ambassador Buratai and he does not have any aide bearing such a name.
He said further that Buratai neither had an office nor a house in Wuse, Abuja.
The statement read in part, “My attention has been drawn to a recent publication on webpage of sahara reporters titled “EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai”which was published on 23/06/2022.
“I have gone through the said Publication and have interfaced with Ambassador T. Y. Buratai can authoritatively say the content of the publication is false, concocted and malicious.
“It is on record that on or about 5th April, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the purchase of equipment worth $1bn for the military through the Ministry of Defence.
“It is a fact that the first batch of Six Super Tucano fighter jets arrived in Nigeria July 22, 2021, while the final batch of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets arrived October 18, 2021.
“No arms fund is ever missing contrary to some previous mischievous publications. For the records no such amount (N850 million or any similar sum) was found with Ambassador Buratai nor does he have any aide bearing such a name. Ambassador Buratai has no office or a house in Wuse, Abuja (address not supplied by SR).”
