From James Ojo, Abuja
The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has absolved the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai of any infraction of the laws over the purchase of two houses in Dubai, United Emirate, worth $1.5 million.
Buratai had been in the eyes of the storm with individuals, right activists and civil society groups calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to relieve him of his appointment. But the Federal Government had defended him saying he did not contravene any law.
Following the clearance by the Federal Government, CCB in a reply to a request by an Abuja-based lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, also stated that the Army Chief did not err as he disclosed he Dubai properties in his Assets Form.
Osuagwu had demanded for information on the contents of the Assets Form of the Army chief, pursuant to section 1 and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
The bureau responded through a letter dated July 11, 2016 with Refine. CCB/HQ/671/G/1/6 and signed by Mrs. Ijeanuli Arinze Ofor on behalf of the CCB chairman.
The letter reads in parts: “We wish to state herein that General Tukur Buratai after his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, declared these assets as required by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“He was served the form CCB on 21th July, 2015 and returned same on 21st August, 2015.
“We also wish to confirm that his property at Dubai was declared in the wife’s name.”
The clearance handed Buratai on the Dubai mansions by the Federal Government had been criticized and described as hasty. The critics claimed no investigation was conducted by relevant agencies in the anti-corruption crusade.
Buratai defended the purchase, saying that he purchased the properties through savings.
Senators broke –Olujimi
From Fred Itua, Abuja
Senate Deputy Minority Whip, Biodun Olujimi, revealed yesterday that lawmakers were broke and unable to meet the demands of their constituents.
The Ekiti State-born lawmaker told Daily Sun that salaries and allowances of senators were now paid late, unlike in the past:
“Funds are not forthcoming. Salaries of lawmakers are paid late. Yet, the people out there have been poisoned to believe that all the funds in the country are here. When you cannot meet their demands, you look like an evil person.
“The truth is that we are the nearest to the people. Because we are federal legislators, we are expected to be better than the others. But where will the funds come from? When you put on your phone in the morning, you get demands from wives who just put to bed, children who cannot pay their fees, leaders that are ill, but you are unable to help. I have to tell my people that I can no longer pay their school fees. We used to assist some of them pay their school fees.”
There have been recent claims that some senators who borrowed funds from commercial banks to prosecute their elections in 2015 have defaulted and that some may soon forfeit their valued properties to offset the debts.
Investigations revealed that the cash crunch also slowed down legislative activities in the Red Chamber.
