Alleged $1.5m Properties Scam: Falana Asks Butarai To Resign Pending Probe

Alleged $1.5m Properties Scam: Falana Asks Butarai To Resign Pending Probe

Popular Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has urged the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Butarai to immediately step aside and allow a full scale investigation by the Arms Procurement Panel and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into the allegation of fraud leveled against him.

Falana, who made the call while reacting to allegations that Gen. Butarai purchased properties worth $1.5 million in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, also said if he does not deem it fit to resign forthwith President Muhammadu Buhari should sack him.

The human rights activist also said in a statement he issued in Lagos on Sunday that since the federal government has repeatedly assured the Nigerian people that there are no sacred cows in the war against corruption and impunity General Butarai should step aside and allow a full scale investigation.

He stated, "The federal government is currently probing the criminal diversion of the sum of $15 billion earmarked for procurement of armament from 2007-2015. On account of the corrupt practices of a coterie of military officers the Boko Haram sect killed about 25,000 and displaced 2 million Nigerians including children.

"While the insurgents exposed our country to unwarranted ridicule by annexing some local governments some army generals were smiling to the bank.

"To the delight of the Nigerian people the Buhari administration has put the indicted military officers on trial.

"However, the name of the Nigerian Army has been illegally used to defend the Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Butarai who is alleged to have purchased properties worth $1.5 million in Dubai  in the United Arab Emirates.

"While admitting the allegation the army authorities claimed that the properties were paid for "by installments through his savings three years ago.

"How an army General managed to save $1.5 million has not been disclosed to Nigerians. Since the General was in charge of procurement for the Nigerian Army at the material time the cock and bull story of the military high command have been called names.

No doubt, General Butarai has led the Nigerian Army to defeat the satanic Boko Haram sect. The Nigerian people are indebted to him for runimg a successful military campaign.

"But like the war on terror  the war against corruption  must be successfully prosecuted and won by the Buhari administration. Since the federal government has repeatedly assured the Nigerian people that there are no sacred cows in the war against corruption and impunity General Butarai should step aside and allow a full scale investigation by the Arms Procurement Panel and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

"In view of the ban on the opening and operation of foreign accounts by public officers the Code of Conduct Bureau should be involved in the investigation.

"If the Chief of Army Staff does not deem it fit to resign forthwith  President Buhari should not hesitate to remove him  in the interest of national morality," Falana said.