The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on Wednesday, October 5, rejected the representatives sent by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to defend the alleged "malicious" compulsory retirement of some military officers.
The
angry members of the Committee said Buratai insulted the Senate by not
appearing in person, and more so for sending low ranking officers to
represent him.
When the Army Chief was
first invited to justify the compulsory retirement of the affected
officers, he rejected the invitation because it was signed by the clerk,
which the committee said is the practice.
Buratai asked that the letter is signed by the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, which was complied with.
"I
was called two weeks ago that the Chief of Army Staff said I must sign
the letter to him personally. So, how come he is not here? It is an
insult to us. When invitation letters are signed, it is by the clerk;
but he insisted that I signed his. We have invited the Air Force Chief
and he came here; same with the Nigerian Navy," Anyanmu lamented when he learnt Buratai only sent representatives to the hearing of the petitions against him and the army.
Lt. Col. Abdulfatai Mohammed and the 21 officers who were sacked had separately petitioned the Senate, protesting their dismissal.
Two
Major Generals, five Brigadier Generals, eight Colonels and seven
Lieutenant Colonels were retired in June 2016, allegedly without any
justification by the Nigeria Army.
One of the Committee members, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said the army has failed to justify the compulsory retirement of the officers.
"How can they just summarily retire young men, who the country has spent so much money training?" he said.
The hearing was consequently adjourned till next Tuesday.
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