Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari is not involved in any corruption scandal and does not operate bank accounts with proceeds of corruption.
Speaking on a television program, Shehu emphasized that the President maintains a reputation for integrity and remains above board.
Shehu’s comments came in response to the outgoing administration’s anti-graft efforts, which have exposed instances of Nigerian politicians stashing stolen funds in local and foreign accounts through proxies and companies.
Several high-profile figures, including former head of state Sani Abacha, ex-Governor James Ibori, and former Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, have been indicted by the UK and the US for alleged money laundering and embezzlement of public funds.
Shehu asserted that President Buhari does not operate any accounts containing illicit government funds and has no fear of scandal or prosecution after leaving office. He expressed confidence that no evidence of such accounts would surface in the future, citing the President’s commitment to integrity and transparency.
President Buhari, who hails from Daura in Katsina State, is set to complete his two-term tenure on May 29, 2023, with President-Elect Bola Tinubu expected to be sworn in. Throughout his campaign in 2015, Buhari pledged to tackle corruption in Nigeria, but the country’s ranking on the Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International has dropped during his presidency.
In response to questions about the persistence of corruption in Nigeria, Shehu explained that while the President is committed to the fight against corruption, the responsibility for investigating and prosecuting cases lies with the executive and the judiciary.
He emphasized that once the executive presents a case to the court, it is up to the court to determine guilt or innocence.
Shehu highlighted that high-ranking officials from the parliament and judiciary have been prosecuted under the Buhari administration, with some still undergoing trial.
Despite criticisms from some quarters regarding the President’s performance in combating corruption, Shehu maintained that President Buhari remains resolute in his commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability in Nigeria.