The Code of Conduct Bureau on request has confirmed that Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai did indeed declare his $1.5 million mansion in his wife’s name.
According to The Nation, the CCB wrote that their records showed that the assets amassed in Dubai by Buratai were declared in his wife’s name.
This revelation came about when an advocate in Abuja, Ugochukwu Osuagwu, requested details of Buratai’s assets and clarification on them pursuant to Section 1 and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act 2011.
The CCB duly responded through a letter of their own dated July 11 and drafted by Mrs. Ijeanuli Arinze Ofor in which they said “We refer to your mail dated Jun 29, 2016. We wish to state here that Gen. Tukar Yusuf Buratai, after his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff, declared his assets as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“He was served the Form CCB-I on July 21, 2015, and returned same on August 21, 2015.
“We also wish to confirm that his property at Dubai was declared in the wife’s name. Please, accept the warmest regards of the chairman.”
The initial letter dated June 29, 2016 had requested clarification on Buratai’s assets which had come under fire as it was reportedly gained fraudulently.
The letter said, “We request that the CCB, pursuant to the FOI Act 2011, avail us the following concerning the declarations of Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai.
“On July 13, 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Gen. Buratai as Chief of Army Staff. The newspapers are awash that Gen. Buratai and his two wives in 2013 paid 1,498,534.00 AED (N120 million/ $419,000) for a Dubai property, Project TFG Marina Hotel, Unit 2711.
“Sale documents indicated that the property was handed over to the Buratais on January 13, 2013, prior to his appointment as the Chief of Army Staff.
“For the purpose of clarity sir, we request you as follows: (1) Confirm if Gen.Tukur Yusuf Buratai declared his assets with you upon his appointment on July 13, 2015, as Chief of Army Staff; (2) Whether the above property he bought with his wife was also declared with the CCB.
“Kindly avail us a reply within the time allowed under the Freedom of Information Act 2011 as much as you can sir.”