The Federal Government
on Friday dismissed as untrue claims that President Muhammadu Buhari donated
$500m to Hillary Clinton campaign in the just-concluded US election.
A video, purportedly
circulated by a US non-governmental group, the American Black Group for
Democracy, had last week alleged that Nigeria donated $500m (about N150bn) to
Clinton’s failed bid for the White House.
It claimed that the
money was “pledged to the US Secretary of State, Sen John Kerry, and US
Ambassador in Abuja”; adding that “the donation may create a huge misunderstanding
between Nigeria and the incoming Trump’s US government.”
But in a reaction on
Friday, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President,
Mr. Garba Shehu, described the accusations as crazy, insisting that “Nigeria
doesn’t have this kind of money to throw around.”
“What is the craziest
accusation made against President Buhari?” Shehu posted on his Twitter handle,
@GarShehu.
“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?”
Mr. Shehu noted that
President Buhari is in discussion with the US government to repatriate loots
stashed in American banks.
He said, “A FGN
account has already been given for the return of one million dollars from
Alamieyesiegha.
“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 U.S is paying to
Nigeria, not the other way round.”
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