Buratai to drag Sahara Reporters to court over N1.85bn loot linked to him
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Former army chief, Tukur Burutai
Former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (retd), has threatened to sue an online medium, Sahara Reporters, over a report linking him with the sum of N1.85 billion recovered loot.
Buratai, in a July 8 letter by his lawyer, Dr Reuben Atabo (SAN), said the funds allegedly recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in his purported property in Abuja, which was published by the Sahara Reporters, was false.
The former COAS, who is now Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, demanded a retraction and apology from Sahara Reporters over the June 23 report.
He said the “false” report was capable of brewing hatred and attack by the public against him.
He added that the publication had ridiculed him as a man “without honour, dignity, and incapable of representing Nigeria,” adding that it held him as a fraudster/dishonest person.
The letter read in part, “There is no doubt that Nigerians are seriously concerned about the security situation of the country and the said publication has portrayed our client as a person responsible for the diversion of funds meant for the fight against Boko Haram.
“Consequently, our client has been exposed to hate, ridicule and embarrassment from members of the public with his friends calling him from different parts of the world to ask for explanations.
“We hereby demand that you retract your publication with a public apology to our client within seven days of receiving this letter and a public apology to be published in two national dailies in Nigeria.”
