The presidency has distanced its principal, Muhammadu Buhari from an online report that the Nigerian leader received funds from the Ogun State treasury.
The online report citing bank records, said the president received the questionable funds using his personal bank account. It added that the transaction which began in 2016 took place while Ibikunle Amosun, a former governor of the state held sway.
But presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a Thursday statement described it as a fake news aimed at tarnishing the image of the president.
“Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a “PMB Estate” is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.
“The President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a State visit.
“PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him of course that does not confer the ownership of the Estate to President Buhari.
“The gossipy online newspaper, peddling the falsehood that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the tried and tested anti-corruption fighter is the beneficiary of this cash transfer should be ignored.
“Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.
“To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration. He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari,” Shehu added.
