By ZAKAA LAZARUS
Former Chief of Army Staff and former Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), has strongly denied claims linking him to terrorism financing.
He described the allegation as false and completely contrary to the principles he upheld throughout his military career.
The retired General responded in a statement signed and issued by former Army spokesperson, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (rtd) on Saturday.
According to the statement, the accusation was “baseless, misleading, and deliberately crafted to damage his name”.
The statement emphasized that Buratai has never been investigated, questioned, charged, or linked to any terrorism-related financing by any security or intelligence agency throughout his career.
According to the statement no official body military, diplomatic, judicial or administrative panel has ever associated the former Army chief with funding terrorism.
The statement further noted that the report was based solely on personal claims by retired Major-General Danjuma Ali-Keffi, which it described as malicious and entirely unfounded.
Buratai’s team expressed disappointment, though not surprise, that he is once again targeted in an apparent attempt to tarnish his public reputation.
They added that similar attempts had been made previously, all of which failed, as his service record remain clean and fully documented.
The statement emphasized that Buratai spent over 40 years fighting terrorism, strengthening counter-insurgency operations, and helping the military reclaim territories previously seized by Boko Haram and ISWAP.
The statement said under his leadership, the Army restored government presence in many communities and enabled displaced families to return to their homes.
Buratai has called on the publication and Ali-Keffi to retract the story and issue a public apology.
He warned that if they fail to do so, he will have no choice but to pursue legal action to protect his reputation.
