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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied receiving N4 billion from an alleged N39 billion loot traced to suspended chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Osinbajo disclosed this via a statement signed by his spokesman, Adeolu Akande.
The vice president described online reports of his indictment by the retired Justice Ayo Salami-led presidential panel probing the alleged infractions committed by Magu as “totally false and baseless allegations”.
Osinbajo said he had reported the online media whch published the false report to the relevant security agency for necessary action.
Magu was arrested on the street of Abuja on Monday by security operatives and taken of the presidential panel sitting at Aso Rock.
He has since been in detention, while an acting chairman has been appointed for the EFCC.
Read statement below:
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS STATEMENT
VP OSINBAJO WILL NOT BE DISTRACTED BY CAMPAIGNS OF LIES & CALUMNY
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.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
8th July 2020
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