*VP writes IGP to investigate allegation
Office of Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has distanced itself from allegations making the rounds that the suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, gave N4 billion to Prof Osinbajo.
The spokesman to Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, said he will not be distracted by “campaigns of lies and calumny”.
Reacting to allegations that Magu “embezzled over N39 billion and gave Osinabjo N4 billion after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots…”, Akande said it was false and had no iota of truth in it.
He said the report which is also being circulated in a video on Youtube with a female commentator “peddling the same lies” was “baseless fabrications”, adding that such “reckless publications” have become tools used by unscrupulous elements to tarnish the image of honest public officials.
Akande added, “With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr. Ibrahim Magu. They are indeed completely absurd in every respect.
“Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), will of course not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny. The online publications, being criminally defamatory in nature, have been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.”
Magu is under scrutiny by a presidential panel over allegations of gross misconduct against the EFCC under him.
In the meantime, Vice President Osinbajo, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, over allegations linking him to funds allegedly stolen by Magu.
An online platform, PointBlank News, had on July 8, published that Magu embezzled over N39 billion and gave Osinbajo N4 billion for soft landing.
The report claimed that unnamed sources within the panel investigating the suspended EFCC boss “exposed the vice president’s involvement in the scandal.”
The vice president in a letter to the IGP through his lawyers, Taiwo Osipitan, on Wednesday said the report was untrue and defamatory.
He also copied the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in the letter.
