Sahara Reporters Lies: COAS Buratai’s Assets in Dubai Officially Declared - Army

Sahara Reporters Lies: COAS Buratai's  Assets in Dubai Officially Declared - Army 

Lieutenant General Buratai 

By Blogger

The Nigeria Army headquarters has described as false and misleading the allegation by an online medium that its chief, Lieutenant Tukur Buratai, and his wives jointly became owners of some properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirate, following a certain 'single' transaction.

The army said though the report were mischievous and calculated to bring disrepute to the person and family of General Buratai, the two Dubai properties said to be owned by the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and his family have been officially declared when he was being appointed as Nigeria's top army officer. 

"It is a fact that the Buratai family have two properties in Dubai that were paid for instalmentally through personal savings three years ago", said Army. "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".

According to a statement issued by the acting Director Army Public Relations (DAPR), Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, General Buratai has never owned any bank account with Skye Bank, as mentioned in the report, and neither did he ever involved himself in any contract scam. 

The army contended that the online medium that published an article on Friday claiming the COAS has been using his offices in the army to enrich himself has been part of the syndicates of unrepentant mischief makers that have sworn to bring down the highly rated chief soldier. 

Colonel Usman has also expressed General Buratai's shocks at the 'false claims' that the he was once a Director of Army Procurement at the Army headquarters IN 2013, even though such an office was in existence at the army until when General Buratai created it after he became the COAS. 

The statement urged Nigerians to see the publication as a malicious fabrication targeted to tarnish the good names of the army chief, as it was attempted in the past. 

The Full Statement Reads:

"The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to another round of campaign of calumny against the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai and his family by some unscrupulous elements as contained in Sahara Reporters story titled "Revealed: Buhari's Chief Of Army Staff, General Buratai, Wives Own Dubai Property", alleging that Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai, and his two wives are joint owners of a Dubai property that was paid for in one transaction posted on the website, this evening.

"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 disappointment, it could not fly, because it is not true.

Col. SK Usman DAPR

"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 wounded in action Nigerian Army personnel were abandoned by the Army, government and the nation which is not true.

"Therefore, the latest round of smear campaign by Sahara Reporters 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 the Sahara Reporters. 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 have two properties in Dubai that were paid for instalmentally 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.

"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 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 Sahara Reporters could lend space for this obvious mischief. We really do not believe that it is because the price is right.

"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".