Olabode Adaramola, Minna
Former governor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has distanced himself from Federal Government’s list of looters in which his name was mentioned to have participated in the sharing of N1.6billion.
He revealed that at the time the money was being shared he was leader of the G-7, and as such, he was overlooked/ or exempted from the sharing arrangement.
Aliyu said his relationship with government at the center was frosty at the time, insisting the money was released to a former governor and female minister after which he said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) invited persons involved in the sharing of the said
money.
He added that those involved in the sharing of the money had allegedly confessed to the crime and have also agreed to refund the money given to them in installments, saying the matter was in public domain.
Aliyu, whose observation was made available to National Wire on Monday in Minna in a Press statement, has called on federal government to produce evidence to support the claims that he collected the money.
He observed that his good name has been dragged in the mud, adding that he demands to be exonerated.
“My attention has been drawn to Federal Government’ s list where I was mentioned to have received the sum of N1.6bn from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
” Let me categorically state for the records that I never received such amount from the former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration. As leader of the G-7, I was not considered loyal enough to be entrusted with the funds, which as we may all recall was meant
for campaign.
” I have never been mentioned in any Office of the National Sescurity Adviser to former President Jonathan, Col. Sambo Dasuki’ s disbursement since 2015.
” I have no case with the federal government over the alleged disbursement or any other. I have every reason to believe the looters list in which my name was included was drafted to tarnish my image before right thinking Nigerians. I believe somebody somewhere is leveraging on the unfortunate case I have with the Niger state government to present a bogus dragnet of alleged looters.
“Let me therefore urge the federal government to delist me immediately
from the alleged looters. I demand that my name be cleared on this matter. I may consider other options as a citizen whose right as guaranteed by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been breached. I will not be used to serve interest of anybody or political party. I will not allow this matter to slide without justice,” Aliyu declared.
The Talban Minna. further urged the federal government to be balanced in naming and shaming alleged looters, adding that the list is far from being exhaustive.
He insisted that the list was politicized and craftily deployed to score cheap political points. He said Nigerians await to see names of politicians working with the APC government who have benefitted from the said loot. He urged the federal government not to disappoint them.
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