By Ishaya Ibrahim
Acting News Editor
The acquisition of two choice property in Dubai by the Chief of Army staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai violates military laws, serving army officers have told TheNiche.
A cross section of senior officers who spoke in confidence, said that military laws do not permit serving officers and soldiers acquiring properties abroad, owning businesses outside Nigeria and marrying foreigners as spouses.
The law was enacted in 1975 to checkmate espionage or other military spying activities by Nigerian army personnel on behalf of other countries.
“The security reason for the prohibition of military personnel from marrying foreigners, owning properties or business concern abroad is simply to avoid a situation of compromise on the part of officers and soldiers.
“Yet, they (military authorities) overlook the aspect of owning properties or businesses abroad simply because almost all of them are guilty of this. But they implement in full scale the law that prohibits marrying of foreign spouse, simply because it is the ordinary soldiers on peacekeeping who run foul of this law,” said onr of the officers.
Another military officer said it was easy to compromise a man through his business concern than using his wife.
“The chief (Buratai) knows better, and he is simply being smart by half,” the officer said.
Sahara Reporters had in a report alleged that General Buratai and his two wives own two properties in Dubai, one of which was worth N120 million.
According to the report, General Buratai and his wives had, on January 13, 2013, reached an agreement with the seller of one of the property, Project TFG Marina Hotel, Unit 2711. The asking price was AED 1,542,000.00 (or $419,826.06 or N120m).
They alleged that General Buratai paid a total sum of AED 1,498, 534.00 (N115.6m) because the sellers gave concessions of AED 43,466, made up of “incentives, promotions, and early payment bonus.”
But PRNigeria, a media arm of the military, said that the government has investigated and cleared General Buratai over his assets.
It said the discreet probe of Buratai indicated that he and his wives only bought shares in some companies instead of wholly owning the property.
“The capital market principle that governed the property in issue, as it was found by investigators, was akin to having shares in companies instead of wholly owning the property.
“The government, after investigating a recent media report over the acquisition of properties in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) by General Buratai, discovered that he and his wives invested as “shareholders” like many other persons in the property mentioned in the publications and were not the sole owners.”
Army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman did not answer his phone when TheNiche called him. He also did not respond to a text to clarify on the law that governs officers ownership of businesses and properties.
