On Friday, the Independent Corrupt Practises and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) provided clarification regarding a report that it had recovered N170 million in cash and a G-Wagon worth $220,965 from the residence of Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, the Nigerian ambassador to the Benin Republic.
According to reports, the ICPC found N1.85 billion in a house and office in Abuja that were allegedly owned by Buratai.
The huge sum said to have been recovered was part of the billions of naira earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government.
But the spokesperson of the commission, Azuka Ogugua, denied that the house belonged to Buratai.
According to Ogugua, facts available indicates that the property is owned by owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.
“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 on suspicion of money laundering. Facts available for the time being indicates that the property is owned by owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor,” Ogugua said.
The Commission added that it recovered N175,706,500; $220,965; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, three Rolexes, and some property documents from the house.