Lt. General Tukur Buratai (rtd), a former chief of army staff and ambassador to the Benin Republic, has vehemently refuted accusations that he financed terrorists, calling them wholly false and at odds with his principles.
In a statement signed by Brig. General Sani Kukasheka Usman, a former Army spokesperson, Buratai made this claim on Saturday in reaction to an online allegation that claimed he and other well-known individuals were associated with terrorism financing.
According to the statement, the claims are “false, unfounded, and mischievous,” and they are part of a smear effort meant to damage Buratai’s reputation. It emphasized that he had never been questioned, looked into, or connected to financing terrorism during his illustrious military career.
“At no point in his distinguished career has he ever been questioned, investigated, indicted, or associated with any such matter by any official body or authority,” the statement states.
“He has never been connected in any way to the financing of terrorism by any security organization, intelligence agency, court, diplomatic mission, oversight mechanism, or administrative body.”
The former Army chief refuted the accusations, stating that they were based only on Major General Danjuma Ali-Keffi’s (rtd) unsubstantiated personal statements in the Sahara Reporters story. He characterized the publishing as a “clear misrepresentation borne out of malice,” devoid of any legal or factual foundation.
Buratai’s statement also condemned the online magazine for its repeated attempts over the years to damage his reputation, all of which were unsuccessful because of his long-standing, open, and honorable service to Nigeria.
According to the statement, “every attempt has failed because his record remains forthright, transparent, and distinguished by honourable service to the nation.”
Buratai had served the nation for more than 40 years with “honour, courage, and steadfast commitment” to combating terrorism, the statement emphasized. It demonstrated his leadership throughout the Nigerian Army’s battle against ISWAP and Boko Haram, which resulted in the resettlement of displaced Nigerians, the recovery of territory, the restoration of civil administration, and the considerable degradation of these terrorist organizations.
The statement went on, “It defies logic and conscience to suggest that the same person who led decisive actions against terrorism would in any way be associated with the very elements he spent his career confronting.”
Buratai’s legal team ordered that Major General Ali-Keffi (rtd) and Sahara Reporters immediately withdraw the accusations and apologize in public. The message cautioned that if this wasn’t done, Buratai would have to file a lawsuit to defend his name.
According to the statement, “failing to do so will leave us with no option but to initiate appropriate legal proceedings to protect his reputation and seek redress for this malicious attack.”
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