The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) has issued the certificate of assets verification and clearance to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Tukur Buratai thereby putting to rest the controversy over his alleged acquisition of property in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), a lawyer, Ugochukwu Osuagwu has said.
Osuagwu, a rights activist, argued over the weekend in Abuja that the issuance of the verification certificate on him implied that Gen. Buratai has complied with all known laws in the country as regard assets declaration by public officers and is exempted from any liability of criminal prosecution.
The CCB had, in a statement by its Chairman, Sam Saba on September 29, 2016, named Buratai among 15 public officers, whose assets had been verified and issued with the “certificate of conference verification and filed verification.”
Implying that the certificate exempts those, on which it is issued, from liability of criminal prosecution, Saba was quoted to have added that “even though the tribunal (Code of Conduct Tribunal) is the institution with the power to adjudicate in asset declaration breaches, the certificate means that from our own end, we are satisfied with the verification that we have done.”
Osuagwu, who noted that Buratai had set a good example by being the first COAS to direct all officers of the Nigerian Army to declare their assets, said he (Buratai) declared his assets in May 2015 while he was the Commander, Multinational Joint Task force, following which he declared again in July 25 on his appointment as the COAS.
“It is interesting to note that Lt Gen. Buratai, who was previously cleared by the CCB, has again been cleared after the CCB completed its verification of asset declaration of Lt Gen Buratai by its officers.
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