ICPC clears air on raid & recovery of N1.85b arms fund in Abuja property

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 The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has cleared the air over reports that its operatives conducted an operation that led to the recovery of over a billion naira from the former Chief of Army Staff, General Tukur Buratai, meant for buying of arms for the Nigerian Army.

ICPC clears air on raid & recovery of N1.85b arms fund in Abuja property
Items recovered from military contractors mansion. | Source: DailyTrust


According to Daily Trust, the operation conducted last week, also led to the recovery of over 50 luxury watches, including at least three Rolex varieties, N175 million cash, $220,000 cash, and a host of other luxury properties from the former military commander.


However, in a news release entitled “ICPC clears the air on media report of Abuja property’s raid and seizure“, dated June 24, 2022, the anti-graft agency said the raid was conducted at a property owned by the owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.


Whereas the agency admitted raiding the property and recovering mind-boggling sums and properties, it did not acknowledge that the said property belongs to General Buratai.

 

The statement said: “The attention of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has been drawn to some inaccurate and concocted reports in the media about the seizure of multibillion-naira cash, dollars, Rolex watches stockpiled in an Abuja property.


“The Commission wishes to state that ICPC operatives raided a property in Wuse 2 of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on Thursday, 16th June, 2022 between 5:00pm and 12:00am in suspicion of money laundering.


“Facts available for the time being indicate that the property is owned by the owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.


“The Commission recovered money and other items from the property viz. N175,706,500; $220,965; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents.”


In the meantime, the Commission has arrested the Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau, while investigation is ongoing.


It warned that it is yet to conclude its investigation and urged observers not to preempt its outcome and also to avoid the frenzy of a media trial.

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