Presidency speaks on Amosun transferring N12.5m from Ogun State treasury to Buhari

The Presidency has denied reports that former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, transferred the sum of N12.5million from the state account to President Muhammadu Buhari, when he was still in office.

Newsflash247 had earlier reported that Amosun, has alleged that he transfer amount of N12.5 million from the state treasury to the personal account of President Muhammadu Buhari for yet-to-be-ascertained purpose.

Prior to his return to power in 2015, Muhammadu Buhari was hardly viewed as a wealthy former military ruler — and even his critics occasionally acknowledged his so-called austere personality.

In the years leading to his 2015 election, there were reports that Mr. Buhari was being sustained by his friends and political associates, including Ibikunle Amosun who supported his fated presidential run in 2015.

But Mr. Buhari’s rise to Nigerian presidency in May 2015 introduced instant fortunes into his immediate family: a fleet of luxury aircraft, a row of fortified palatial mansions, luxury cars, helicopters, presidential dining, evolving wardrobe, a monthly income that runs into millions. The benefits are almost endless — all on the Nigerian taxpayers.

Yet, Mr. Amosun, a serving senator who was Ogun State governor between 2011 and 2019, transferred N12.5 million of Ogun taxpayers’ funds to Mr. Buhari’s personal bank account, according to bank records obtained by Peoples Gazette.

The bank transaction, from the First Bank of Nigeria, and obtained by the Peoples Gazette, revealed that the money was sourced from the Ogun State Government Expenditure Account, 2017774754 and paid into the President’s account.

The transaction date was September 8, 2016, and was done through the state government expenditure account.

The document partly reads, “OGUN STATE GOVT. EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT 2017774754 9/8/2016, 10,000,000.00 NEFT FROM OGUN STATE HOUSING CORPOR/B O OGUNCREDITFBNOFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OKE MOSAN NGN

“OGUN STATE GOVT.EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT2017774754 9/8/201620 12,500,000 FIP: BR: 000013 /PRES.MUHAMMADU BUH/TR DEBIT FBN OFFICE OF THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL OKE MOSAN NGN.”

From the bank records, it showed that Amosun, who was Ogun State governor between 2011 and 2019, transferred N12.5 million to Buhari’s bank account.

September 8, 2016, transaction was authorised from Ogun State Government Expenditure Account, which was reportedly under Amosun’s control.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, wrote on Twitter that the money in question was transferred to ‘PMB Estate’.

Shehu claimed the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate in Abeokuta was only named after the president, but belongs to the state government.

“PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government. Of course, that does not confer the ownership of the estate on President Buhari,” the statement read in part.

Shehu wrote, “Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a ‘PMB Estate’ is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The President Muhammadu Buhari Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a state visit.

“PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him. Of course, that does not confer the ownership of the estate on President Buhari.

“The gossipy online newspaper, peddling the falsehood that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the tried and tested anti-corruption fighter is the beneficiary of this cash transfer should be ignored.

“Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.

“To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration. He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.”

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