Buratai’s lawyer threatens legal suit against Sahara reporters over ICPC’s uncovered funds
Lawyer to the retired Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai, Barr. Osuagwu Ugochukwu has debunked media reports that his principal’s Abuja home was used to keep money meant for arms during his years as military chief.
Ugochukwu who threatened Sahara reporters with law suit, denied that Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC uncovered stolen funds in Buratai’s home.
According to a statement which was obtained on Friday by our correspondent, Ugochukwu described Sahara reporters’ publication as false and malicious.
Periscope Nigeria reports that Buratai is the current Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic.
The statement partly read, “My attention has been drawn to a recent publication on webpage of sahara reporters titled “EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai”which was published on 23/06/2022.
“I have gone through the said Publication and have interfaced with Ambassador T.Y.Buratai and can authoritatively say the content of the publication is false, concocted and malicious.”
Ugochukwu revealed that the President had been involved in direct purchase of military weapons, ruling out conspiracies, stressing that no amount had been declared missing.
He said, “It is on record that on or about 5th April 2018 President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the purchase of equipment worth $1bn for the military through the Ministry of Defence.It is a fact that first batch of Six Super Tucano fighter jets arrived Nigeria July 22, 2021 while final batch of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets arrived October 18, 2021. No Arms fund is ever missing contrary to some previous mischievous publications.
“For the records no such amount (#850M or any similar sum) was found with Ambassador Buratai nor does he have any aide bearing such name. Ambassador Buratai has no office or house in Wuse Abuja(address not supplied by SR) nor does he have any bulletproof cars, BMW, G-Wagon (Particulars of vehicle not also supplied by SR) worth N450m and neither is ICPC investigating any such.”
Buratai’s lawyer added, “We view this as an orchestrated act aimed at tarnishing the image of LT General T.Y Buratai and we shall take all legal steps to hold the publishers accountable for such grievous character assassination on the image of LT.T.Y Buratai(RTD).”
