The Nigerian Army has absolved the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, from the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal, saying he had never been involved in any questionable act throughout his military career.
A statement signed by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations (DAPR), Col. Sani Usman, said the clarification followed a release by a “faceless group” – Save the Nation Movement (STNM) – calling for the inclusion of Buratai among those indicted in the ongoing probe of arms procurement between 2007 and 2015.
While accusing the group of embarking on a campaign of calumny, the Army, however, disclosed that the COAS “was Director of Procurement at Defence Headquarters from March 2014 to May 2015, not from 2012 to 2015, not from 2012 to 2015 as they wished to mislead the public.”
It further noted 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.”
Part of the statement reads: “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 again reared its ugly head again.
“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…”