An anti-graft coalition, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption<\/p>\n
(CSNAC), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to
\ninvestigate the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, over alleged diversion
\nof funds to purchase properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).<\/p>\n
In a petition forwarded to the anti-graft commission and signed by the
\ngroup\u2019s chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, the group said such act was a
\nviolation of the law of public service.<\/p>\n
According to the group, \u200eif the revelation is found to be true, based on
\nevidence adduced by a newspaper, then the actions of the COAS is a great
\ndisservice, an act of sabotage against the Nigerian State and a violation
\nof the law prohibiting public officer from investing or participating in
\nany other business safe for farming.<\/p>\n
Taking a cue from a publication of June 24, 2016, by Sahara Reporters, an
\nonline newspaper, the group said the newspaper revealed how the Chief of
\nArmy Staff, Major General Buratai and his two wives were alleged joint
\nowners of a Dubai Property that was paid for in one transaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe funds for the said properties were alleged to have come from a
\nvehicle contract scam, executed while Mr. Buratai was the Director of
\nProcurement at the Army Headquarters. \u201cOur correspondents discovered that
\nthe Nigerian Army had awarded an apparently bogus contract for the supply
\nof vehicles and motorcycles for the use of troops involved in an
\nanti-terrorism offensive in Nigeria\u2019s beleaguered northeastern zone\u201d.<\/p>\n
According to the publication, \u201cThe allegation that General Buratai might
\nhave pilfered funds meant for the purchase of military vehicles has
\nsparked outrage among soldiers and officers, especially those from the
\nnortheastern part of the country. Two military sources disclosed that
\nirate officers had petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, urging him to
\norder an investigation into the contract scam\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the petition, exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters, the aggrieved
\nsoldiers and officers, under the umbrella of Concerned Soldiers and
\nOfficers from the North East, had accused the COAS of executing the
\ncontract through a proxy. According to the petitioners, the proxy\u2019s name
\nis Usman Gamawa, founder of Baggash Investment Limited. The petition
\nstated that, rather than supply new vehicles, as contained the contract
\nawarded, Mr. Baggash allegedly purchased second-hand vehicles and
\nmotorcycles from Niger Republic.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn arrival in Nigeria, the vehicles were said to have been refurbished at
\nMogadishu Cantonment under the supervision of Staff Sergeant Dadan Garba.
\nSaharaReporters said some of the vehicles and motorcycles had since broken
\ndown.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An anti-graft coalition, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC), has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, over alleged…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":45801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-51074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n