The vice president, Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said that he will not be distracted by “obvious campaigns of lies and calumny” to the statement credited to one Jackson Ude that he (Osinbajo) received N4 billion from the embattled erstwhile chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
Magu is current undergoing interrogation at a presidential panel set up to probe allegations of fraud leveled against him by the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami.
Ude, as reported by an online medium, had said that Magu allegedly embezzled over N39 billion and gave N4 billion to the vice president.
However, spokesman for the vice president, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement described the allegation as “totally false” “baseless fabrications” and “completely absurd” purported to reflect the goings-on at the panel investigating Magu.
The statement
The attention of the office of the vice president has been drawn to a series of tweets and online publications by PointBlank News and Newsreel.com.ng today 8th July 2020, credited to the same person, one Jackson Ude.
“In essence, Ude’s story is that “embattled former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly embezzled over N39 billion and gave Vice President Yemi Osinabjo (sic) N4 billion, after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots…”
“The same Jackson Ude has also been circulating a video on YouTube with a female commentator, peddling the same lies.
“With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr. Ibrahim Magu. They are indeed completely absurd in every respect.
“Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will of course not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny. The online publications, being criminally defamatory in nature, have been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.”
