Group States why General Tukur Buratai Must Be Probed

A group, Save The Nation Movement (STNM) has called for the inclusion of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, in the ongoing investigation into the procurement of arms and ammunition by the last administration.

The group stated its call on the fact that Buratai was the Director of Public Procurement at the Defence Headquarters between 2012-2015.

According to the group, it reeks of double standard and bias for Buratai if he is not being probed while other top army officers are undergoing investigation.

In a statement released on Sunday by the STNM National Secretary, Steven Chilaka, the group said:

“Major General Tukur Buratai was appointed Director of Procurement DHQ in 2012, a position he held until May 2015 that he was appointed Force Commander of the Multinational Joint Task Force, an appointment he held till he became Chief of Army Staff.

“As Director of Public Procurement at the DHQ, all procurements by the military between 2012 and May 2015 passed through his office. Our question is; how can you probe procurement of arms within this period without the involvement of Major General Buratai, the man who was the Director of Procurement?”

“Curiously too, only retired and serving officers of the Nigerian Air Force were said to have been indicted. The officers indicted are former Chief of Defence Staff, Retired Air Chief Marshal Alex Sabundu Badeh; Former Chief of Air Staff, Retired Air Marshal Mohammed Dikko Umar, former Chief of Air Staff, Retired Air Marshal Adesola Nunayon Amosu, Major General E.R. Chioba (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal I.A. Balogun (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Tsakr (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.G. Idowu (Rtd), Air Vice Marshal A.M. Mamu, Air Vice Marshal, O.T. Oguntoyinbo, Air Vice Marshal T. Omenyi, Air Vice Marshal J.B. Adigun, Air Vice Marshal R.A. Ojuawo, Air Vice Marshal J.A. Kayode-Beckley, Air Commodore Sa Yushau (Rtd), Air Commodore A.O. Ogunjobi, Air Commodore G.M.D. Gwani, Air Commodore S.O. Makinde, Air Commodore A.Y. Lassa, Colonel N. Ashinze, and Lt. Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (Rtd).”

“Was the army being excluded from this probe to save Major General Buratai? Or Could procurements have been made without his involvement during the period that he was Director of Procurement? Definitely, it won’t be funny if President Mohammadu Buhari’s fight against corruption is also selective against the military as it already appears to be against the political class and the President must look into this obvious case of selective probe as a matter of urgency.” Chilaka said.