Operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have raided the home of a former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai.
According to People’s Gazette and SaharaReporters, the ICPC operatives reportedly recovered over a billion naira from the former army chief, who is now Nigeria’s Ambassador to Benin Republic.
The anti-graft agency also recovered over 50 luxury watches, including at least two Rolex varieties, from the former army boss.
Sources say that the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) had alerted the ICPC when it commenced a probe of an alleged military contractor named Salisu.
An ICPC source said: “NFIU discovered that N500 million was paid into Salisu’s account at once and quickly flagged it.
“When Salisu was queried he said he was a military contractor, but he was unable to show any evidence of carrying out any contract for the military.”
Sahara Reporters had first reported the raid on Thursday night, which put the recovered funds at about N1.85 billion.
The ICPC also conducted a raid on Salisu’s home, recovering “hundreds of millions of naira, all in new notes,” a source told Peoples Gazette.
One of the sources said: “We discovered that the place is owned by Buratai and he has been working with the man to loot military funds for many years.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerian soldiers are suffering at the war front due to lack of equipment.”
Speaking to the publication, Buratai said no warrant was obtained to search his house.
“Nobody obtained any warrants to search my place,” he said.
Buratai however disconnected the call when quizzed on whether or not he was confirming the raid and cash recovery from his property.