By: James Bwala
Bad Journalism is about diverting truth to witch-hunting the innocent. Before the evening of Friday less than 24 hours to it’s wild claims of hitting the pages first, ICPC has vindicated the former Chief of Army Staff leaving Sahara Reporters to explain how they got their information. Recently, this online medium has deviated in its credibility and has lost touch with the realities of investigative journalism. That is why it was said get the news first but get it correctly.
The report earlier published by Sahara Reporters over alledged money laundering where it alledged link to former Chief of Army Staff, Lt General Tukur Yusuf Buratai was a distraction and meant to destroy his hard earned reputation both in the public and military circles where Buratai has remained a subject of discussion in examplary leadership.
Many who read the reports earlier have dismissed it with a wave of the hand knowing too well that the former Chief of Army Staff has a reputation and demonstrated unequal administrative documentations of his deeds regarding what comes in for the military and how it was expended.
For those who may have doubted his integrity, the coming forward by the
Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, to debunked the news published by Sahara Reporters has put the online medium on the scale of integrity test.
That the ICPC recovered cash, vehicles and jewelry running into billions from the residence of former Chief of Army Staff and Nigeria Ambassador to Benin Republic, His Excellency Ambassador TY Buratai as alledged by Sahara Reporters and the contrary stand by the ICPC indicated that the online medium is only doing the handiworks of its pay masters to tarnished the image of the former Army Chief in public domain.
“Contrary to the inaccurate and concocted reports, it was the residence of Mr Kabiru Sallau, a military contractor that was raided in Wuse 2, Abuja, based on a tip off where the items listed below were recovered.” ICPC revealed in while distancing itself from the claim by Sahara Reporters.
According to Azuka Ogugua, ICPC Spokesperson in a statement issued on Friday, the clarification becomes necessary in order to correct the inaccurate and concocted reports by Sahara Reporters about the seizure of multi billion-naira cash, dollars, Rolex watches stockpiled in an Abuja property.
The statement reads; “Facts available for the time being indicate that the property is owned by owner of K Salam Construction Company, a military contractor.
“The Commission recovered money and other items from the property viz-a-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.
“The Commission arrested the Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau and investigation is ongoing.
“The Commission is yet to conclude its investigation and prefers not to preempt its outcome and also avoid the frenzy of a media trial.” Buratai never had a house in Wuse 2 where the online medium claimed it’s facts are coming from. Would they be courageous to come out and apologize to Buratai or prepare themselves for the legal battle as Buratai’s team of lawyer roar on the way to Court.