N2.5bn Scandal: PDP Challenges Buhari, First Lady To Come Clean

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, to make a clean breast of the N2.5 billion “fraud” scandal currently rocking the Presidency.

The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, had been linked in a media report to the scandal involving her aide-de-camp, Sani Baba Inna, who was reportedly arrested by the Nigeria Police for allegedly receiving largesse from some politicians and business people on behalf of the First Lady and diverting such to his personal pocket.

Premium Times reported that the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had ordered the arrest of Mr Baba Inna on the request of Mrs Buhari in a bid to get the ADC to refund the N2.5 billion to her.

Reacting however to the development, the opposition PDP, through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, alleged the Buhari Presidency was “becoming notorious as a den of certificate forgers and persons of questionable character.”

The party challenged President Buhari “to show his zero tolerance for corruption by allowing for an open inquest into the N2.5 billion scandal, in which the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has already been entangled; instead of the spirited effort by the Presidency to suppress a matter that is already in public domain.”

The PDP said, “Nothing is more scandalous than the fact that while President Buhari is in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York mouthing his war against corruption, a huge broth of corruption, in which his wife is mentioned, is simmering under his own roof.

“President Buhari, by now, must have learnt that Nigerians are not buying the lame denial by our First Lady, who had rushed to town to disown her detained security aide, Sani Baba Inna, just because the lid is off the can of worms.

“This scandal has further vindicated the stand of the PDP that President Buhari presides over a government of corruption, where his close relatives, officials and a cabal of associates are enmeshed in sleazy deals but parading as saints.

“It is instructive to note that the First Lady has already admitted that her detained security aide defrauded “unsuspecting associates and officials”, a position which inadvertently exposes the attempt by the Police to conceal the matter.

“The PDP and indeed Nigerians have always pointed to the very expensive lifestyle and personal effects, including posh jewelries, daily paraded by close relatives of Mr. President, thus belying gimmicks and stunts of the first family being saintly and pro-poor.

“Also, there have been allegations of acquisitions of sprawling and choice property in Nigeria and other countries by persons close to the President.

“Since the First Lady, in her statement, confessed that her security aide defrauded “unsuspecting associates and officials”, the PDP demands that the aide be promptly docked in an open court and given the opportunity to defend himself and expose his accomplices in the alleged fraud.

“It is common knowledge that aides of former Presidents and those of former First Ladies are currently facing trial in open court over similar allegations and this should not be an exception.

“The PDP, however, hopes that the detained aide will not be ‘escorted’ out of the country to prevent him from opening up, as was the case of disgraced former minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun.

“Moreover, the PDP invites Nigerians to note that the Presidency has suddenly gone dumb on a N2.5 billion fraud under its roof. Does this not amount to admittance of complicity by the Buhari Presidency, which is becoming notorious as a den of certificate forgers and persons of questionable character.

“The PDP therefore holds that since issues have been joined and high profile personalities in the Presidency named, it hopes this matter will not be swept under the carpet,” said the party.