Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd) has, in a swift riposte, denied claims that $1 billion arms fund got missing on his watch.
He said he was never, ever involved in any deal or scheme through which money that was meant for arms to fight insurgency, was either stolen outright or even misappropriated.
National Security Adviser, NSA, Babagana Monguno had said in an interview with BBC Hausa Services, that “No one knows what happened to the money, but God willing, the president will investigate to find out where it went or where the goods went.”
Although Monguno had, after the news did the rounds, issued a denial, saying that he was quoted out of context, Buratai, through his counsel, said Monguno could not have been referring to him.
In a statement issued by Osuagwu Ugochukwu, Attorney to the former Chief of Army Staff, he said his attention had been drawn to an interview granted BBC by the National Security Adviser (NSA) Major General Babagana Monguno (retd) wherein he was alleged to have accused former service chiefs of filtering away arms fund.
He said: “I can confirm that Lt General Buratai and other ex-service chiefs were never mentioned in the interview and neither was any arms fund missing under the stewardship of Lt Gen. T.Y. Buratai.
“Interestingly, NSA Babagana Monguno has denied making such accusations. We therefore urge members of the public to discountenance any such misquoted narrative suggesting sleaze on the integrity of Retd Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai.”
According to him, anyone interested in knowing how arms were procured by the ex-service chiefs and particularly Lt Gen T.Y. Buratai should channel such request for information to the Ministry of Defence and stop the habit of speculation and false information peddling.
“Because any attempt to further tarnish the image of the former Chief of Army staff will be resisted legally,” he was quoted TNG to have said.
Osuagwu Ugochukwu said in the said interview by the NSA, Monguno did not even mention the names of the former service chiefs.
Read him: “I can confirm that Lt General Buratai and other ex-service chiefs were never mentioned in the interview and neither was any arms fund missing under the stewardship of Lt Gen. T.Y Buratai.
“Interestingly, NSA Babagana Monguno has denied making such accusations. We therefore urge members of the public to discountenance any such misquoted narrative suggesting sleaze on the integrity of retd Lt Gen.T.Y. Buratai.”
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