“Baseless and Malicious”: Buratai Dismisses $1 Billion Weapons Fund Allegation
“Baseless and Malicious”: Buratai Dismisses $1 Billion Weapons Fund Allegation
Jerry Adesewo, Abuja.
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (Rtd.), has strongly refuted allegations of misappropriating $1 billion meant for arms procurement during his tenure, describing the claims as politically motivated and outrightly false.
Responding to questions on the Arise TV talk show, ‘This Morning’, on Tuesday, Buratai stated that the allegations are a deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation and questioned why such claims were resurfacing even when he had addressed them.
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The former Army Chief dismissed the reports as a fabrication designed to mislead the public, insisting that all funds allocated for weapons procurement under his leadership were properly utilized with full accountability.
“These allegations are nothing but political propaganda. The Nigerian Army, under my leadership, followed due process in acquiring military equipment, and there was never any misappropriation of funds,” Buratai asserted.
He further challenged those making the claims to provide concrete evidence rather than relying on hearsay and speculation.
Buratai carefully highlighted that the Nigerian Army, during his tenure, made significant progress in acquiring modern weapons and strengthening national security, leading to notable victories against insurgents. He recalled that under his command, the military received and deployed sophisticated hardware, including artillery systems, armoured tanks, and fighter helicopters, all of which were documented and accounted for.
“If $1 billion was misappropriated, how did we manage to acquire the numerous weapons and equipment that bolstered our fight against terrorism? The records are there for anyone who cares to check,” he stated.
Buratai, Nigeria’s longest serving Chief of Army Staff, also questioned the timing of the revived allegations, suggesting that it was part of a coordinated attempt to discredit his name and past service to the nation.
“It is unfortunate that some individuals continue to use falsehoods to score political points. My conscience is clear, and my records are open for scrutiny,” he declared.
The former Ambassador of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin called on Nigerians to be wary of politically motivated smear campaigns, urging the public to focus on facts rather than baseless accusations meant to cause distractions.
He reaffirmed his commitment to Nigeria’s security and national development, stating that he remains proud of his service and the contributions made under his leadership.
“My tenure was marked by dedication to duty, and I will not allow political opportunists to rewrite history with lies,” Buratai concluded.
As the controversy unfolds, Nigerians await further clarifications on the matter, but one thing remains clear—Buratai is not backing down from defending his integrity and legacy.
“Baseless and Malicious”: Buratai Dismisses $1 Billion Weapons Fund Allegation