Turkur Buratai, COAS
The Nigerian Army has refuted claims by former spokesperson of the APC, Timi Frank where he alleged that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and the COAS Lt Gen TY Buratai were responsible for Deji Adeyanju’s re-arrest by the Nigerian Police Force, as one of the series of smear campaigns that have been directed at the NA and particularly the person of the COAS by misinformed and ill meaning Nigerians.
According to the army in a statement, “An audacious fib of this magnitude must have either been borne out of willful intent to foment trouble or of a malicious intent to malign the person of the COAS. Otherwise, any reasonably informed Nigerian need not dig too deep to ascertain the true reasons for Deji Adeyanju’s arrest by the NPF. Besides, the NPF has the rights and powers to take up such responsibilities of fighting cyber related offences and issues relating to inciting disturbances in the country.”
The army noted that with the foregoing, “it would suffice to add that the NA is not ignorant of all the recent false information concerning NA Operations been peddled by @adeyanjudeji on twitter as well as abusive and libelous outbursts of the same handle on the person of the COAS. To this end, the NA is already in consultation with its advocates for appropriate legal actions to be taken in accordance to the rule of law.”
The army however said it is dissociating itself from the current self-induced predicament of Deji Adeyanju in the hands of the NPF, which is being sensationalised by his promoters.
“Such sponsors of Deji Adeyanju are advised to keep the NA and its leadership out of their self-seeking, cheap popularity on social media.”
Finally, the NA wishes to once again utilise this opportunity to appreciate the goodwill and support of well-meaning Nigerians and will continue to remain dedicated in carrying out its constitutional roles, despite any form of smear campaign by detractors.
It would be recalled that according to reports, the Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja had on Tuesday remanded Deji Adeyanju in prison for ‘promoting terrorism’ on social media, moments after the political activist was arraigned on a petition filed by Chief of Army Staff Tukur Buratai.
