$2.1bn Arms Deal: Buhari only received 1 armourd SUV, 1 untreated SUV - Presidency

By Ehi Ekhator, United Kingdom

Nigerian Presidency has responded to the news making round that the embattled former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki gave $300.000 to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The report alleged that Buhari received share from the looted $2.1bn dollars meant for the purchase of arms for the Nigerian military who are fighting with the terrorists group in the North East of Nigeria.

General Buhari

Responding to the media report, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said Buhari did not in anyways collect money from anyone in Jonathan’s administration.

He however agreed that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to President Buhari after he was attacked in Kaduna by members of the Boko Haram sect, which he said was his entitlement as a former Head of State.

Shehu said “Our attention has been drawn to reports making the rounds, especially  on internet-based media, that President Muhammadu Buhari received $300,000.00 & up to five armoured SUVs from the Office of the National Security Adviser in the aftermath of the attack on his convoy in Kaduna last year.

“We unequivocally deny that President  Buhari received $300,000.00 or any monetary compensation whatsoever from the Jonathan Presidency or any of its officials, in the aftermath of that attack, or at any other time since then.

“While it is true that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to the President in the aftermath of the attack, the vehicles were in keeping with his entitlements as a former Head of State under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999. Section 3, Sub Section 1 of that Decree provides that three vehicles will be provided for former. heads of state & replaced every four years

“There was therefore nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption in former Head of State Buhari and Presidential aspirant as he then was, receiving vehicles, to  which he was statutorily entitled , from the Federal Government of Nigeria

“President Buhari had in keeping with his austere, spartan & frugal disposition shunned most of his entitlements as a former Head of State but was prevailed upon by his supporters to accept the two vehicles for his personal safety after of an attempt to assassinate him

“It is preposterous to think that the President will allow his acclaimed reputation of honesty and incorruptibility to be tarnished by accepting a questionable monetary compensation from a discredited regime.”

 

$2.1bn Arms Deal: Buhari only received 1 armourd SUV, 1 untreated SUV - Presidency