- Members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions have lashed out at the chief of army staff, Tukur Buratai, over his failure to honour their invitation to attend a public hearing
- A petition had been submitted by a retired officer who alleged that he had been dismissed from the Army suddenly and without explanation; however, Buratai did not attend the hearing to present the Army’s account of the situation
- The chairman of the committee described Buratai’s action as an insult and asked his representative to convey the lawmakers’ disappointment to the army chief, and inform him to present himself for the next hearing
Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, incurred the wrath of members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, when he failed to honor their invitation to attend a public hearing on Wednesday, October 4, Premium Times reports.
Buratai had been summoned to appear before the committee, over a petition submitted by Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed (rtd), who alleged that after 22 years of service, he had been forcefully retired without any explanation in June 2016.
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NAIJ.com gathers that at the end of Mohammed’s speech at the public hearing, Samuel Anyanwu, the committee chairman, called out Buratai’s name, so he could give the Army’s account of events.
However, an officer who identified himself as Major Daniel from the Army’s Legal Services Department, responded on behalf of the Army chief.
This infuriated the senators who stated that Buratai was ‘disrespectful’ and ‘insulting.’
Anyanwu stated: “I was called last week by my clerk that the Chief of Army Staff said I should personally sign the invitation letter before he can attend to us and I did.
“I find it difficult to believe that he didn’t honour our invitation.
“We also have a General as member of this committee and he deemed it fit not to come here to listen to us.
“The last time we invited the Chief of Air Force, he was here in person. The same thing with Navy.
“I respect you and your position as a major, but tell whoever sent you that we are not going to listen to you.”
Further expressing the committee’s displeasure, another member, Binta Garba stated: “Even if they will send someone from the legal department, it should be the head and not a major.”
Declaring the meeting closed as a result of Buratai’s absence, Anyanwu told the representative: “Go and tell your Chief of Army Staff that this committee takes exception to this kind of insult and would not take it.
“Tell him that we didn’t attend to you and in the next sitting, we expect him to appear in person.”
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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that the Nigerian Army was accused of sacking some of its officers for not showing support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last elections.
The retired officers were reportedly sent packing without following proper procedures and for having ties to the erstwhile administration of Goodluck Jonathan.
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Source: Naij.com