The presidency has dismissed claims that President Muhammadu Buhari donated $500 million to Hillary Clinton’s campaign in the just-concluded US election, describing the allegation as false.
Senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, described the allegation as crazy.
He clarified that, in the first place, Nigeria does not have such money to throw around, and that President Buhari is not the kind of person to indulge in such.
It would recalled that a video, purportedly circulated by a US non-governmental group, the American Black Group for Democracy, had last week alleged that Nigeria donated $500 million (about N150bn) to Clinton’s failed bid for the White House.
But Garba Shehu denied the allegation on his Facebook wall, saying, instead, that the country was close to repatriating hundreds of millions of dollars in stolen money from the US.
He wrote, “What is the craziest accusation made against President Buhari? – That he donated $500m to Hillary’s campaign and that Donald Trump is angry. This has gone viral. Sadly, Nigerians are believing it!
“President Buhari’s Nigeria doesn’t have this kind of money to throw around. Even if the money is there, this president is the least likely person to give it as donation, and for what?”
Shehu revealed that President Buhari has been in talks with the US government to repatriate loots stashed in American banks.
He said, “An FGN account has already been given for the return of one $1 million from (Diepreye) Alamieyesiegha.
The late Alamieyeseigha was a former governor of Bayelsa State who was imprisoned in the US over fraud allegations.
“Judgement on the $480m Abacha loot has been won and our Attorney-General, Malami (SAN), will be in the US next week to speak to the Department of Justice on the next steps for the return of that as well.
“The US is paying to Nigeria, not the other way round,” he declared.
Source:Leadership
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Politics