Dubai Properties Scandal: Buratai has been cleared by the CCB- Lawyer
Wed Jul 20, 2016 12:02:pm National
3.3K By Buchi Obichie
A statement was released on Tuesday by a law firm representing the
embattled Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, stating that the
Army Chief had been cleared by the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, of any
wrongdoing in the $1.5m properties he (Buratai) bought in Dubai, the
United Arab Emirates.
In the statement which was signed by Buratai's lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, critics were advised to respect the Army chief's rights to private family life as guaranteed in Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In his assets declaration form which was submitted on August 21, 2015, Buratai had declared that the Dubai properties belonged to his wife.
Making a case for the military chief, Osuagwu said Buratai did not make any false declaration, adding that the said property was not acquired after he became the Chief of Army Staff to warrant the invocation of Section 15 (3) of the CCB Act.
The statement read in part: "We view the further attempt by some select few to still dwell on this same Dubai properties and criticise the COAS as a veiled attempt to divert his attention from the current war he is waging to secure the country in various troubled spots in Nigeria.
"Critics are therefore advised to respect the General's right to private family life as guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As Amended) and construct their views within the ambit of the rule of law having been duly cleared by the CCB.
"The COAS complied with Section 15(1) of the Act and included his spouse's assets in his declarations. That is what the law requires of him and he did not disappoint. The COAS acted lawfully and has not breached any law."
According to Osuagwu, the law firm had requested the CCB to clear the air over the said Dubai properties, in a letter dated June 29,2016.
Osuagwu added, "Without much delay, the CCB responded in its letter dated July 11, 2016, and stated clearly from the asset declaration filed by General Buratai that the said property was duly filed by the Army General and in the spouse's name.
"Having so declared the property as required of him by law, the Chief of Army Staff has discharged the duty placed on him by the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the CCB and Tribunal Act."
A copy of the CCB's response to Buratai's lawyer, forming the basis of Osuagwu's assertion, was signed by Mrs. Ijeanuli Arinze Ofor, on behalf of the CCB's chairman, Mr. Sam Saba.
The letter, titled, Re-Request for information pursuant to Section 1 and 4 Freedom of Information Act 2011', read, "We refer to your mail dated June 29, 2016, on the above subject matter. We wish to state here that General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, after his appointment as Chief of Army Staff, declared his assets as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"He was served the Form CCB 1 on July 21, 2015 and returned same on August 21 2015. We also wish to confirm that his property in Dubai was declared in the wife's name. Please accept the warmest regards of the chairman."
In the statement which was signed by Buratai's lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, critics were advised to respect the Army chief's rights to private family life as guaranteed in Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
In his assets declaration form which was submitted on August 21, 2015, Buratai had declared that the Dubai properties belonged to his wife.
Making a case for the military chief, Osuagwu said Buratai did not make any false declaration, adding that the said property was not acquired after he became the Chief of Army Staff to warrant the invocation of Section 15 (3) of the CCB Act.
The statement read in part: "We view the further attempt by some select few to still dwell on this same Dubai properties and criticise the COAS as a veiled attempt to divert his attention from the current war he is waging to secure the country in various troubled spots in Nigeria.
"Critics are therefore advised to respect the General's right to private family life as guaranteed under Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (As Amended) and construct their views within the ambit of the rule of law having been duly cleared by the CCB.
"The COAS complied with Section 15(1) of the Act and included his spouse's assets in his declarations. That is what the law requires of him and he did not disappoint. The COAS acted lawfully and has not breached any law."
According to Osuagwu, the law firm had requested the CCB to clear the air over the said Dubai properties, in a letter dated June 29,2016.
Osuagwu added, "Without much delay, the CCB responded in its letter dated July 11, 2016, and stated clearly from the asset declaration filed by General Buratai that the said property was duly filed by the Army General and in the spouse's name.
"Having so declared the property as required of him by law, the Chief of Army Staff has discharged the duty placed on him by the 5th Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the CCB and Tribunal Act."
A copy of the CCB's response to Buratai's lawyer, forming the basis of Osuagwu's assertion, was signed by Mrs. Ijeanuli Arinze Ofor, on behalf of the CCB's chairman, Mr. Sam Saba.
The letter, titled, Re-Request for information pursuant to Section 1 and 4 Freedom of Information Act 2011', read, "We refer to your mail dated June 29, 2016, on the above subject matter. We wish to state here that General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, after his appointment as Chief of Army Staff, declared his assets as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"He was served the Form CCB 1 on July 21, 2015 and returned same on August 21 2015. We also wish to confirm that his property in Dubai was declared in the wife's name. Please accept the warmest regards of the chairman."
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