President Goodluck Jonathan has denied the allegation that he was informed one of his minister’s was involved in a $250 million bribery payment from a foreign Oil major.
Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido made the claim that he reported the bribery offense to President Jonathan but, the President refused to act on the information.
Lamido had said, “Do you know that recently a top minister received a $250 million (about 42.25 billion) bribe for himself… he (the minister) is in the cabinet; he is in this current regime; he knows and I know, and I told the President.”
However in a full denial, Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati issued a statement describing Lamido’s claims as “grossly irresponsible, false and mischievous.”
Abati said, “The Presidency views the patently bogus allegation reportedly made by the Governor in a radio interview yesterday as an unacceptable and callous attempt to unjustly impugn the integrity of President Jonathan and cast aspersions on the seriousness of his Administration’s efforts to curb corruption.
The allegation and the claim by Alhaji Lamido that he informed President Jonathan of the acceptance of the huge bribe by an unnamed minister is absolutely without any foundation in fact or reality because no such communication has ever taken place between them.
We abhor Governor Lamido’s descent to the unscrupulous, reckless and thoughtless peddling of arrant falsehood in a puerile effort to score cheap political points against President Jonathan for personal and sectional political gains.
If, as he claims, Alhaji Lamido has credible information about a minister receiving the said amount as bribe, he should publicly name the minister involved without delay and provide evidence to support his allegation.
In the event that he is unable to do so, he should be prepared to offer an unreserved apology to the President and Nigerians for his unwarranted and unjust effort to denigrate, disparage and malign the President and the Federal Government.
While the Jonathan Presidency will continue to make corrupt public officials answerable for their actions, it will not succumb to harassment and blackmail by self-seeking politicians jostling for personal advantage.”
If Lamido is sincere, he should be bold enough to call the minister’s name with evidence backing his claim. If he can accuse the president on a live broadcast, of not acting on his allegation, I don’t see any reason why he can’t call the ministers name. I see this as blackmail, trying to get back on the president because EFCC arrested his children.
If Lamido is sincere, he should be bold enough to call the minister’s name with evidence backing his claim. If he can accuse the president on a live broadcast, of not acting on his allegation, I don’t see any reason why he can’t call the ministers name. I see this as blackmail, trying to get back on the president because EFCC arrested his children.