Senate mad at Army Chief over 'unjustified' sacking of 22 military officers

dimeji akinloye

October 5, 2017 9:04 AM

The Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions said Buratai insulted the Senate by not appearing in person, and more so for sending low ranking officers to represent him.

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.

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.

dimeji akinloye