Nigerian Army Debunks ‘Unfounded Allegations’ Levelled Against Akerejola Over US Property

The Nigerian Army has debunked an article by an online media site which accused the Chief of Logistics of the Nigerian Army, Major General Erema Akerejola, of using funds from the military budget to pay for a million-dollar property in the United States.

The online publication said that a source from the army had revealed to them that the General had put his wife’s name as the owner of the house to cover his tracks, and that payment for the property was being made from funds that were diverted from the military budget.

However, in a statement released by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier General Onyema Nwachukwu, and put on the X social media platform (formerly called Twitter), the Nigerian Army said that the accusation was ‘bogus’ and warranted a response as the Army holds transparency and accountability as part of its core values.

The statement read, “First and foremost, the property in question, located in the United States, was indeed acquired 12 years ago on a monthly mortgage basis, which is still being paid by Mrs Akerejola, who has lived and worked in the US for the past 19 years.

“Alluding to insinuations that the owner of the property comes from a poor background is a slap on the face of every hardworking Nigerian, who has made something positive of themselves, despite their birth circumstances.

“It is important to note that General Akerejola was only appointed about 6 months ago as the Chief of Logistics Nigerian Army, while the property was acquired about 12 years ago.  Accordingly, the vague report intentionally failed to mention the year of acquisition. Therefore, ignoring those details in order to achieve sensationalism and satisfy his thirst to mischievously mislead the public was rather the ulterior motive.  Little wonder, the writer did not provide any shred of proof for the story, other than the supposed words of unnamed sources, who appear disgruntled, if at all, they even exist.

“It is expedient to state that the real intention or otherwise of the infamous online media in publishing such toxic concoctions at this critical period is targeted at causing disaffection and shaking the table within the Army. The NA’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity remains unwavering and would not condone any form of corruption or fraudulent activities within its ranks.”

The statement went on to say, “The Nigerian Army remains committed to its mission of protecting the territorial integrity of our great nation and serving as a force for good. We will continue to hold ourselves accountable to the Nigerian people and operate with transparency and integrity at all times.

“We assure the public that any allegation of wrongdoing within our ranks will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken in accordance with the provisions of the law. The Nigerian Army remains committed to upholding the trust reposed on it by Nigerians.”

The Army, in the statement, then asked the public to exercise caution and to refrain from disseminating misinformation to others that could tarnish the image of others. It then spoke to the media, imploring them to maintain professionalism and to make sure that accurate information was given to the public.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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