General Tukur Yusuf Buratai bought a second choice property in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, days after his appointment as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), an investigation by SaharaReporters has revealed. 

As this news website exclusively revealed last week, General Buratai and his two wives in 2013 paid the sum of 1,498,534.00 AED (N120 million/$419,000) for the first property, Project TFG Marina Hotel Unit 2711. Sale documents indicated that the first property was handed over to the Buratais on January 13, 2013.

On July 13, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed General Buratai as Chief of Army Staff. Our investigations show that, within 11 days of his appointment, the general was making arrangements for the purchase of a second property from the same company in Dubai. Our investigators obtained evidence that, between July 24 and August 17, 2015, General Buratai paid a total sum of N42.2 million into TFG Sigma 111’s account in Nigeria (Skye Bank 1770380452). 

Evidence exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that General Buratai made N10 million payments on July 24 and August 7 respectively. Three days later, another N10 million was paid into the real estate firm’s account, The phone number on the Skye Bank teller is 08033349740 Saharareporters investigations shows that it belonged to a Nigerian Army Major Emmanuel G. Adegbola of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps (N/10808).  On August 17, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff paid the sum of N3,270,000 into the account.

Our sources within the Army disclosed that the lodgments came from Army funds stolen and diverted by General Buratai. They explained that the diverted monies were taken from funds budgeted for the feeding, medical care and payment of allowances of soldiers fighting the war against Islamist insurgents in Nigeria’s northeast zone.

Our sources also stated that the funds for General Buratai’s first Dubai property came from a contract awarded for the supply of vehicles and motorcycles to the Army. They asserted that General Buratai had cornered the contract in his days as Director of Procurement at the Army Headquarters, using a front identified as Usman Gamawa. “The contract was awarded for the purchase of new vehicles, but Alhaji Gamawa's Baggash Investment Limited bought second-hand vehicles and motorcycles from Niger Republic for the use of soldiers,” said one source. He said the purchase of substandard vehicles exposed troops engaged counter-insurgency operations to heightened danger, made them vulnerable to attacks by Boko Haram insurgents, and reduced their effectiveness. Army sources disclosed that, on arrival in Nigeria, the vehicles and motorcycles supplied by General Buratai’s front, Mr. Gamawa, were taken for refurbishment at Mogadishu Cantonment under the supervision of one Sergeant Dandan Garba.


Angered by the deplorable state of the vehicles and motorcycles, a group known as Concerned Soldiers and Officers From The Northeast petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari to demand an investigation into the financial malfeasance perpetrated by General Buratai. A member of the group told SaharaReporters that they want President Buhari to ask General Buratai to explain where he got money for his various assets, including the real estate in Dubai. He said the COAS also owns a huge industrial-scale farm, Tukur and Tukur Farm Limited, on the Abuja-Keffi Expressway. “The farm is currently a huge construction site, featuring a tarred road, a zoo, a guesthouse, chalets, a restaurant, a cinema hall, a mini-stadium and other leisure facilities,” said the source, adding that some of the equipment on the site belongs to the Army.

In a statement issued last Friday, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, acting Director of Army Public Relations, claimed that General Buratai and his family own two properties in Dubai that were paid for in installments through personal savings. But Colonel Usman’s claim that the two homes were bought three years ago is at odds with purchase documents seen by SaharaReporters. Colonel Usman also stated that General Buratai was a victim of a campaign of calumny. 

Purchase documents for General Buratai’s first property in Dubai showed that the COAS and his wives paid for Project Marina Hotel Unit 2711 in one lump, instead of by installments. Their single payment earned them what the sellers, Sigma 111, called  “incentives, promotions and early payment bonus.” Owing to the lump payment, the sellers shaved off AED 43,466 from the AED 1,542,000 that was the asking price for the property. General Buratai paid AED 1,498,534 for the first property. 

The cash lodgments into Sigma 111 Skye Bank account also suggested that General Buratai did not buy the second property three years ago, as Colonel Usman claimed. The dates of the payment showed that money started gushing into the account eleven days after Buratai’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff.




Colonel Usman also claimed that General Buratai had always declared the two properties as parts of his assets. But such claims are hardly cast-iron proof of fidelity to the laws on declaration of assets. Public officials regularly claim to own assets they have not bought. Similarly, Colonel Usman claimed that General Buratai was never a Director of Procurement at the Defense Headquarters. Yet, evidence from the website of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) proves the military spokesman wrong. According to the site bpp.gov.ng, General Buratai attended the 2014 Defense Headquarters Procurement Seminar as the Director of Procurement.

The website quoted General Buratai as stating at the seminar, “It is our hope that at the end of the seminar, we would all be better informed about public procurement procedures and work towards the emergence of an enhanced Defense Procurement Procedure for the Armed Forces of Nigeria.”

Several retired and serving Army officers told SaharaReporters that General Buratai seemed to be getting away with his financial misdeeds because of a growing culture of corruption in the armed forces. They point to the case of Major-General A.B. Abubakar, the current Chief of Administration at the Army Headquarters. According to two sources, General Abubakar was never sanctioned after he reportedly misappropriated huge sums meant for the equipping and training of re-absorbed soldiers based in Kontagora, Niger State. Another military source cited Brigadier-General Momoh of the Department of Logistics, Army Headquarters who reportedly diverted millions of the Army’s funds to his private account. “His only punishment was redeployment to the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) of the Nigerian Army,” said the source.

Yet another military source drew attention to the case of one Colonel Jega, who reportedly placed 101st at the Defense College exams. Yet, the colonel got preferential treatment and was sent to the Defense College in Bangladesh, ahead of those who performed much better than he. “Some of those who did better in the exams were even retired,” our source said.

http://saharareporters.com/2016/06/27/general-buratai-bought-second-dubai-property-days-after-appointment-chief-army-staff

I still maintain that the problem with Nigeria is not necessarily the political class, but the herd of suffering followers who defend their opulent lifestyles and sanguinary proclivities.

We Nigerians tend to even forget quickly, maybe because things are tough for us. we have all moved on from the CBN employment scam, FIRS employment scam and believe me...we would have forgotten about this one by next week.
Finally, let Buratai resign and a full fledged investigation be conducted...he is in no way bigger than the other former service chiefs who are standing trial.
I still believe he can afford the house, but I don't believe anyone who served in the last administration as director of procurement in a corruption ridden institution like the Nigerian Army is clean.

As for the army, allow Butatai and his family to respond...you are in no way privy to all of his finances

If Sahara Reporters descends on you, there is only one thing involved, you are finished!

Am watching the Nigerian Armed Forces in 6D

we need to be recolonised dats all. every govt official is corrupt

I fear Sahara Reporters. If Sahara reporters accuse you, just ignore them or accept because the moment you start arguing or accusing them they will finish you and same time print your Obituary posters. lolz

These allegations are very clear. EFCC should arrest and question him.

BADNEAT:
Colonel Usman also claimed that General Buratai had always declared the two properties as parts of his assets. But such claims are hardly cast-iron proof of fidelity to the laws on declaration of assets. Public officials regularly claim to own assets they have not bought. Similarly, Colonel Usman claimed that General Buratai was never a Director of Procurement at the Defense Headquarters. Yet, evidence from the website of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) proves the military spokesman wrong. According to the site bpp.gov.ng, General Buratai attended the 2014 Defense Headquarters Procurement Seminar as the Director of Procurement.

Just Imagine. Politicians will know they are planning to get a property in future, they will include it in there asset declaration. Corruption in Nigeria is something else. What is the CCT Judge waiting for abi na only Saraki body them get power.

All these are the reasons why this fight against corruption is doubted because it is one sided and against there perceived enemies. You are fighting incumbent governors while immediate ex governors with evidence of corruption charges against them are ignored all because they are in APC. Instead they are even given juicy appointments.

Mr Burantashi, only your press-ups will save you now. After people will be claiming that "Buhari is appointing only saints".

IBB

"All baboons in the zoo are criminals, they are rogues, after stealing and hiding their loots in foreign lands, they will say Oh One Nigeria, and the monkeys will be jumping from one place to another shouting One Nigeria. Lunatics everywhere" - N.K Jan 21st, 2015.

Nna a this thing is getting nastier by the day.

I don't know how Sahara reporters dig out their news. They are the best

EFCC should do the needful. They shouldn't just turn a blind eye to investigative journalism of this magnitude and start acting like it's nothing. The presidential spokesman should kindly STFU on this. Nigerian Army should also stay out of this matter since they are not the personal spokesperson of Buratai.

If Buhari shields this man... than we can safely conclude that Buhari is a fraud and a corrupt crook being a former military general (Show me one general dat is a saint; Obj, Ibb, Ojukwu, Abdulsalami, Abaloot, Dasuki, Ihejirika)... Buhari already has cases to answer to show he doesnt support corruption and witchhunting...
1. AishaHaliburton
2. Waec Scandal
3. How fuel became readily available after increase to #145
4. Why he doesnt want to prosecute GEJ
5. Amaechi's thievery and APC campaign funds probe
6. Shiites unnecessary killings

Summary, Buhari is a crook

Zombies won't see this.
If it was Fayose or other PDP goons that bought those foreign properties, NL woulda been filled with st.upid zombie comments.
Zombies are so foolish, they would eat buhari's shi.t with gladness.
Being a zombie is hell.
Awon weyrey 100%.

Nigeria's political sphere has 99.1% wolf nd just .9% sheep...

God help this country.


This is real journalism....thumbs up SaharaR

I fear Sahara reporters oooooo. If dem get your time your own don done. It's better you keep quiet instead of arguing with them. Some wailers will believe this story because it's against the president yet they'll call SR nonsense source if the news is about saraki or fayose.

As for me i believe anything from Sahara. I'm sure mr Buhari will be disappointed in buratai right now.

How many times did I say this man was in charge of army procurement under Dasuki? How many times did I tell you people Buhari is just one uselessly partial man? You insult GEJ, arrest Dasuki and then go on to make the very officer in charge of procurement, you make him Chief Of Army Staff. Then you tell me you have ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CORRUPtION.






Meanwhile who have seen the Chibok girl?

Aspireahead:
I still maintain that the problem with Nigeria is not necessarily the political class, but the herd of suffering followers who defend their opulent lifestyles and sanguinary proclivities.

We Nigerians tend to even forget quickly, maybe because things are tough for us. we have all moved on from the CBN employment scam, FIRS employment scam and believe me...we would have forgotten about this one by next week.
Finally, let Buratai resign and a full fledged investigation be conducted...he is in no way bigger than the other former service chiefs who are standing trial.
I still believe he can afford the house, but I don't believe anyone who served in the last administration as director of procurement in a corruption ridden institution like the Nigerian Army is clean.

As for the army, allow Butatai and his family to respond...you are in no way privy to all of his finances

I agree.

Na wa ooo

Selfish interest everywhere

This man should either step down, or be sacked

Forget, if Sahara reporters reason your matter, you're finished.

Sahara reporters my best online news..
Hove or love them, they are always the best

This sahara reporters enn, ,
dem be like witch.
Yoruba people dey talk say.... Aje le ee ni sokoto , a salo kafancha.. Ibo loju aje o to ?

This people own pass say witch dey follow u. Chai! I hail thee



Anyways...
DrabeeyWasHere

What kind of this is this? So Saint Burantashi is THIEF? Hahahaha, Buharigate + Aishagate loading... All our POLITICIANS ARE THIEVES