The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has explained why the former generals in the army involved in the arms deal controversy cannot be probed by the army.
Tukur Buratai
Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has given reasons why former army chiefs and other senior officers involved in the ongoing $2.1bn arms deal probe cannot be investigated by the army.
The Chief of Army Staff who made the revelation while speaking with House of Representatives Committee on Army during the defence of the army’s 2016 budget in Abuja, said as retired personnel such investigation was beyond the purview of the army, adding that the status of the former service chiefs and senior officers makes it difficult for the army to successfully investigate them.
Burutai told the lawmakers, “The service chiefs and those involved in the procurement are retired, so, we are limited on the extent we can investigate them.”
But responding to Burutai’s comment, the Chairman of the committee, Rima Shawulu, stated that the House has constitutional powers to institute a probe into the arms scandal.
Shawulu further called for review of the arms procurement process for the Army and all security agencies.