Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by ijustdey: 3:44am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Dayo Oketola, John Alechenu, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Fisayo Falodi and Gbenro Adeoye
In a twist to President Muhammadu Buhari’s order for the probe of two former Chiefs of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika and Lt. -Gen. Kenneth Minimah, and 52 others, over arms procurement scandal, some retired military officers and other Nigerians have said that the probe should be extended to the Minister of Interior, Lt. -Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), and the current Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
They questioned the exclusion of Dambazau and Buratai from the list of those to be probed when the chief of army staff was the Director of Military Procurement during the period the arms scandal was alleged to have been committed.
They said the call for Buratai’s probe became more necessary given the revelation that the Chief of Army Staff bought $1.5m properties in Dubai with “stolen money.”
According to them, Buhari’s fight against corruption will appear to be one-sided if Buratai is left in his position and not being probed in spite of the allegations against him.
President Buhari had ordered the probe of 54 persons, including Ihejirika and Minimah for their roles in the arms scandals that saw billions of dollars meant for the procurement of arms for the Nigerian military for the prosecution of the war against Boko Haram insurgency diverted to private pockets.
The affected persons include 18 serving and retired personnel, 12 serving and retired public officials and 24 chief executive officers of companies involved in the arms procurements between 2011 and 2015.
The move had followed Buhari’s approval of the recommendation of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement in the Armed Forces led by AVM Jon Ode (retd.).
In June, the Nigerian Army Council had retired a former aide de camp to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan; Col. Ojogbane Adegbe; a former Principal Secretary to an ex -National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); Col. Nicholas Achinze, a former ADC to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua, Brig. Gen. A. H. Sa’ad; and 57 other senior officers for their involvements in the scandal.
However, the retired military officers said the President’s war against corruption should be impartially prosecuted. One of them, Col. Kunle Falayi (retd.) expressed support for the ongoing anti-graft war, but urged the President to ensure that it was not one-sided.
Falayi said, “But if it is true he (Buratai) has stolen money or that he partook in the mismanagement of the arms funds, there should no reason why he should be exempted from being probe.
“He should be invited for probe if he has stolen, but if it is found that he has not stolen any money, he should be allowed to continue with his work.”
On the allegation that Buratai’s total emoluments since he was commissioned in the Army could not support the mansions he bought in Dubai, Falayi said, “Buratai should be able to explain how he got the money with which he bought the properties. I have nothing against that; he should be made to explain the source of the money.
All I know is that I support President Buhari’s war against corruption, but the war should be total; nobody suspected to have stolen public money should be exempted from probe.”
Another retired military officer, Col. Tony Nyiam, who commended Buhari for creating the condition engendering the probing of departments of the Federal Government used to be treated as “sacred cows”, however, said it would be unfair to leave out Buratai from the probe.
“The Director of Procurement within the period being investigated should certainly be asked to help enquiry or be called in as a witness to give more information or as someone whom the allegations against him should be checked. In other words, the probe has to involve him.
“The President has an opportunity to show that his war against corruption is not biased because there are so many allegations in the air.”
In the same vein, a former military administrator, who spoke on condition of anonymity, faulted how Buhari is handling the allegations against Buratai.
“There is no doubt that the anti-corruption war is a one-sided campaign, but even beyond that, there is the issue of lopsided appointments and nepotism in Buhari’s government,” he said.
A former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, who also described the source of Buratai’s wealth as unexplained, asked that the army chief should be probed.
Tsav said the impression given by Buhari’s government so far showed that the administration had been using double standard on the anti-corruption issue.
He said, “People are saying that Buratai declared his assets with the Code of Conduct Bureau, but even if he did, how did he get the whopping sum of money to acquire the property in Dubai? How much does he earn in a year? “These things are unreasonable; the government is giving the impression that it is being partisan and taking sides.
“He (Buratai) should be investigated. If Minimah and Ihejirika will be investigated, Buratai should also be investigated so that we can know the truth. And if the government knows what we don’t know, it should lay it bare to members of the public so that it will be left to the court of public opinion to recommend to the government but taking sides is not good enough.
“If a President comes to serve, he takes the oath that he is going to be fair to all manners of people, so he should be fair to all manner of people. The government said it found huge funds in the farm of a person but it has not told us whose farm it is. We want to know. Is the man a soldier or a politician?”
Recently, an editorial of July 10 edition of Sunday PUNCH, had described the situation as “a major credibility test for the President’s campaign against corruption.” It said, “President Muhammadu Buhari’s fledgling war on corruption has reached a critical juncture. In a case that has generated outrage, the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has been accused of buying two houses in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at a cost of $1.5m.
“Curiously, the Nigerian Army has admitted that Buratai, indeed, owns the assets, saying, however, that he bought them with his savings in 2013.”
But some of the retired military officers, who spoke to Saturday PUNCH officers and some online commentators, have also questioned the exclusion of the Minister of Interior, Lt. -Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.), from the list of persons to be probed.
According to Nyiam, who called on Buhari to probe all persons in his government with corruption allegations against them, “many of the contracts being looked at had their genesis in the period that Dambazau was Chief of Army Staff.”
He said, “So as to avoid accusations of double standard, the period when President Umaru Yar’Adua was ill should be looked into because there was much stealing and corruption as the Commander-in-Chief was not well.
“If not added, it would make the fight against corruption questionable and it will make it look one-sided. It will be as if it is only the Chiefs of Army Staff from the South that are being probed.”
Also, on the PUNCH website, some of the comments trailing the report: ‘Arms scandal: Buhari orders probe of Ihejirika, Minimah, 52 others’, accused the Federal Government of bias by leaving out Buratai and Dambazau in the names of people to be probed over the arms scandal.
A commentator, General Sam Bockerie, said,“So how did Lt. General Abdulrahman Dambazau become the only former Chief of Army Staff who has no explanation to do? What did he do differently? Or was he left off the hook because he is a northerner? “Where is Colonel Jafaru Isa that was arrested and released on the grounds that he refunded some National Security Adviser office’s funds? Didn’t former Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu (retd.) – a Yoruba man, also refund money? Why is Amosu being prosecuted while Jafaru is walking around a free man? Your guess is as good as mine! What about Tukur Buratai that ‘saved’ so handsomely to buy foreign properties in his wife’s name? Anti-corruption war indeed!”
Anti-graft war should not be sectional – Afenifere
A socio-political organisation, Afenifere, on Friday deplored the non-inclusion of Dambazau and Buratai in the arms scam report released on Thursday.
Afenifere said the non-inclusion of the two Generals gave an impression that President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft war was sectional.
Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, said the duo should be investigated “If there are allegations against Buratai and Dambazau, they should be investigated alongside their colleagues so that the impression is not created that we have unequal justice.”
Also, a Second Republic member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has said that Danbazau and Buratai cannot be exempted from the arms purchase probe.
Mohammed spoke in a telephone interview with one of our correspondents on Friday. He said, “I still believe that it will be gross injustice for Danbazau and Buratai to be left out of the list of those to be probed.
“Gen. Buhari himself said anyone that owns property in Dubai and Abuja must be investigated. Everybody knows that Buratai owns property in both Dubai and Abuja on that count alone, Buratai ought not to be left out of the list.”
Anti-graft fight non-discriminatory -FG
The Federal Government said there was no truth in the insinuation that the report of the Presidential Committee on the Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement was doctored.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his Special Adviser, Mr. Segun Adeyemi, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said what had been released so far was the report of the audit covering the period 2011 to 2015.
He added that the committee would commence the audit of procurement from 2007 to 2010 as soon as the necessary documents were available.
The minister said, ‘’When the documents regarding procurement from 2007 to 2010 are available and scrutinised, the committee will then issue its report on that. The audit is being done on phases, and the report that was released on Thursday is the third of such.’’
He stated that the Federal Government’s anti-corruption fight was non-discriminatory.
He said, ‘’No one should attempt to distract from the seriousness of the issues involved in this audit of defence equipment procurement. It is important to note that even though the total amount spent for procurement and operations within the period were N185,843,052,564.30 and $685,349,692.49, the irregularities in the awards ensured that the military did not get value for money, with very serious consequences.’’ http://punchng.com/arms-scam-probe-dambazau-buratai-ex-military-officers-tell-buhari/lalasticlala 1 Like |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by smartblu(m): 3:47am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Buhari is a complete disaster if he fails to probe Dambazau and Buratai. APC "CHANGE" is one of the World's Biggest and Most Successful Scams 7 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by nerodenero: 4:00am On Jul 16, 2016 |
EFCC is just a tool in the hands of any government to fight political enemies. Some people are simply above the law. It happened during Baba Iyabo, Oko Turai and gentle Jona. Danbanza and Burantashi are friends of Bubu's government, trust him to look the other way. Painful to admit but the truth is there's no stopping this. 6 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Nobody: 4:26am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Dambazau and Buratai are not indicted, yet the enemy of progress expects Buhari to probe the backbone of his administration. Clowns |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by kbams241: 4:29am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Hmmm. Food done ready for d e-warriors |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by sublimes: 5:04am On Jul 16, 2016 |
mrkayusfit: Dambazau and Buratai are not indicted, yet the enemy of progress expects Buhari to probe the backbone of his administration. Clowns
Please be reminded that this government is not a permanent Government, and what goes around will surely come around. 2 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Nobody: 5:10am On Jul 16, 2016 |
[quote author=sublimes post=47585375][/quote] You should say that to the man in the mirror |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by midolian(m): 5:12am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Buhari should just do this. If he is really interested in killing this corruption, this is the way to go. 1 Like |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by OZAOEKPE(f): 5:15am On Jul 16, 2016 |
midolian: Buhari should just do this. If he is really interested in killing this corruption, this is the way to go. please don't tell me that you wailing ? 3 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by OZAOEKPE(f): 5:16am On Jul 16, 2016 |
mrkayusfit: Dambazau and Buratai are not indicted, yet the enemy of progress expects Buhari to probe the backbone of his administration. Clowns
may God upgrade your brain, the version you using is far too outdated 4 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by modath(f): 5:22am On Jul 16, 2016 |
All I know is that I support President Buhari’s war against corruption, but the war should be total; nobody suspected to have stolen public money should be exempted from probe.” EoD 3 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Firefire(m): 5:53am On Jul 16, 2016 |
“But if it is true he (Buratai) has stolen money or that he partook in the mismanagement of the arms funds, there should no reason why he should be exempted from being probe.
On the allegation that Buratai’s total emoluments since he was commissioned in the Army could not support the mansions he bought in Dubai, Falayi said,
“Buratai should be able to explain how he got the money with which he bought the properties. I have nothing against that; he should be made to explain the source of the money.
All I know is that I support President Buhari’s war against corruption, but [size=14pt]the war should be total; nobody suspected to have stolen public money should be exempted from probe.” [/size] 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Histrings08(m): 6:17am On Jul 16, 2016 |
If u touch those 2 men, what happened in Pakistan may happen here too... Just saying |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Abeymills(m): 7:04am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Bubuhari is a disaster 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by nicedas(m): 7:06am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Wash. |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by omenka(m): 7:15am On Jul 16, 2016 |
I think Baba has no choice but to make this sacrifice if he doesn't want to have his admin live with the moral baggage of selective justice for the next three years.
It is a painful decision he has to make but that is what leadership is about- especially on that Danbarawo abi na Danbazau sef. 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Fedayeen02: 7:28am On Jul 16, 2016 |
The same scenario that happened in 1984 is repeating itself. There was a one sidid fight against corruption and a lot of people were going through hardship and the press was being intimidated.
Talk more of dejavu 1 Like |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by todayboy: 7:43am On Jul 16, 2016 |
BUHARI don't probe saints they have repent
Buhari have said it clearly that he will probe only Jonathan government they said they have probe from 2010 to 2015
What about buratai that is the procurement office upto 2015
Afonjas children oya come support your slave master |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by todayboy: 7:46am On Jul 16, 2016 |
omenka: I think Baba has no choice but to make this sacrifice of he doesn't want to have his admin live with the moral baggage of selective justice for the next three years.
It is a painful decision he has to make but that is what leadership is about- especially on that Danbarawo abi na Danbazau sef. One afonja children is realizing his mistakes for supporting buhari BUHARI is only witch hunting opposition and nothing more If buhari use the same energy he using to harass his enemies on the economy things will not be as bad as it is now Omenka if want to be a wailer contact firefire for a form 2 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by buhahaha: 7:57am On Jul 16, 2016 |
He will not listen...cos they are clean and improbable..
Ndalla!!!! |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by hartopher76: 8:03am On Jul 16, 2016 |
corruption fight my foot, that ugly talkative from edo state will not see this to talk, only talking nonsense when he hears the name GEJ. |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Babacele: 8:12am On Jul 16, 2016 |
omenka: I think Baba has no choice but to make this sacrifice of he doesn't want to have his admin live with the moral baggage of selective justice for the next three years.
It is a painful decision he has to make but that is what leadership is about- especially on that Danbarawo abi na Danbazau sef. danbaza, danbarawo kowai! 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by phlemzy: 8:51am On Jul 16, 2016 |
It's unbelievable that Buhari is defending Buratai in this matter. This revelations about his Dubai property was revealed by those he rolled with back in the days. 1 Like |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by JAMANZE: 8:53am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Buhari fighting his perceived enemies since 1984. Pls zombies help me tell bubu that he has less than 3 year to rule and he also has many children and a younger wife in Aisha. Come 2019 we will vote in a President that will return this favour to bubu and family. like he is treating obanikoko and his family now. karma is unavoidable bastard |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by modath(f): 9:10am On Jul 16, 2016 |
omenka: I think Baba has no choice but to make this sacrifice of he doesn't want to have his admin live with the moral baggage of selective justice for the next three years.
It is a painful decision he has to make but that is what leadership is about- especially on that Danbarawo abi na Danbazau sef. I called this even before SR & PT did and I had no doubt it will be "managed in house" (cc Babacele) It may be painful, but someone that has cancerous cells will rather endure chemo than just throw up the dueces and hope it goes into remission on its own or wait for death. It just must be done to ensure he retrieves a modicum of credibility back... The lopsided appointments, insensitive silence over the recruitment scams (one too many) & this manipulation of the arms probe report? Goodwill can only go far. We owe it as a duty to speak up, Buhari's desire does not take precedence over peace a stability of the nation, he is seriously........ nuff said FOR NOW. How ya? 2 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by omenka(m): 9:24am On Jul 16, 2016 |
modath:
I called this even before SR & PT did and I had no doubt it will be "managed in house" (cc Babacele)
It may be painful, but someone that has cancerous cells will rather endure chemo than just throw up the dueces and hope it goes into remission on its own or wait for death.
It just must be done to ensure he retrieves a modicum of credibility back... The lopsided appointments, insensitive silence over the recruitment scams (one too many) & this manipulation of the arms probe report? Goodwill can only go far.
We owe it as a duty to speak up, Buhari's desire does not take precedence over peace a stability of the nation, he is seriously........ nuff said FOR NOW.
How ya? I dey jarey. Slept with a clear head this time. |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by obailala(m): 9:25am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Dambazau specifically needs to be investigated, I never really liked that man. I remember back then when he was an integral member of the Turai kitchen cabinet that almost literally rubbed shit on the face Goodluck during the Yaradua sickness saga. It's a known fact that all top Nigerian military chiefs are stinkingly corrupt, but I can only imagine the fortunes people like Damborobber made within those few months when they kept playing Ludo on poor GEJ's head. |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by modath(f): 9:26am On Jul 16, 2016 |
JAMANZE: Buhari fighting his perceived enemies since 1984. Pls zombies help me tell bubu that he has less than 3 year to rule and he also has many children and a younger wife in Aisha. Come 2019 we will vote in a President that will return this favour to bubu and family. like he is treating obanikoko and his family now. karma is unavoidable bastard I don't know you and I am ashamed we share the same skin... Obanikoro's daughter moved 800m (no income stream to warrant such huge sum) and you aren't somewhere crying about how your yam eating heroes have mortgaged your future? Gawd, why?? Warrisdis?! 2 Likes |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by OZAOEKPE(f): 9:27am On Jul 16, 2016 |
omenka: I think Baba has no choice but to make this sacrifice if he doesn't want to have his admin live with the moral baggage of selective justice for the next three years.
It is a painful decision he has to make but that is what leadership is about- especially on that Danbarawo abi na Danbazau sef. see your mouth |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by Babacele: 9:33am On Jul 16, 2016 |
modath:
I called this even before SR & PT did and I had no doubt it will be "managed in house" (cc Babacele)
It may be painful, but someone that has cancerous cells will rather endure chemo than just throw up the dueces and hope it goes into remission on its own or wait for death.
It just must be done to ensure he retrieves a modicum of credibility back... The lopsided appointments, insensitive silence over the recruitment scams (one too many) & this manipulation of the arms probe report? Goodwill can only go far.
We owe it as a duty to speak up, Buhari's desire does not take precedence over peace a stability of the nation, he is seriously........ nuff said FOR NOW.
How ya? retaining danbaza n Buratai maybe one of the worst decisions PMB would make.....we know,cos we ain't God, when to overlook certain sins but not these sins against the innocent souls; the victim of BH violence ,murder and plunder that was sustained by the same set of rogues being punished for looting the funds. what is sauce for Dasuki is sauce for Dambazau.... |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by omenka(m): 9:39am On Jul 16, 2016 |
Hundredhunndred, Halftruth, make una see that una friend don follow me reach here. This one na confam madness oo. |
Re: Arms Scam: Probe Dambazau, Buratai, Ex-military Officers Tell Buhari by hundredhunndred: 9:46am On Jul 16, 2016 |
2 Likes 1 Share |