Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (left) and President Muhammadu Buhari who appointed him
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described the ruling All Progressives Congress as “a haven for treasury looters” following the alleged connection of a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, with the N1.8billion recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in a property in Abuja.
In a statement released late Sunday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to recall Buratai to face investigations over the allegation if indeed his administration is serious with the claim to fight corruption.
The statement titled, ‘N1.8bn: Recall Buratai for investigation, PDP tasks Buhari…insists APC is haven for treasury looters’, partly read, “The Peoples Democratic Party calls on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately recall the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), to face investigations and clear his name over alleged connection with the N1.8bn recovered in a property in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
“The PDP’s demand for the recall and investigation of Gen. Buratai is predicated on the earlier assertion by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno, after the exit of Gen. Buratai as COAS that the $1bn drawn from the national coffers under the All Progressives Congress administration for the purchase of arms to fight terrorism in our country could not be traced.
“That assertion by the NSA heightened suspicion on allegations of barefaced looting of money meant to equip our security forces. Such corruption under the APC administration has led to the upsurge in unhindered terrorism attacks, mass killing of citizens and loss of many of our gallant fighters in the front in the last seven years.
“It is therefore of serious interest to Nigerians when reports that the ICPC discovered the sum of N1.8 billion in various currencies, expensive cars and jewelries secreted in a property in Abuja allegedly linked to the former COAS broke out.
“There are already apprehensions that the discovered money is part of the security fund that was criminally diverted. This is especially against the backdrop of the frenzy and spirited efforts by certain quarters linked to the APC to suppress investigation and free flow of information, politicise the matter and sweep it under the carpet.”
