..Says Kachikwu Not Under Probe
President Muhammadu Buhari has said none of his Ministers, Government
officials or Aides are corrupt, vowing not to sack anyone accused of
Corruption except the courts find them guilty.
He lampooned the media for accusing officials of his Government of
corruption insisting that none of his Ministers have any case in Court for
corruption.
Buhari challenged anyone with evidence of corruption against any of his
Ministers to come forward.
“I don’t think I tolerate corruption, I don’t think I picked anybody that
I know will embarrass my government. But if you have any evidence about
any of my ministers, I accept responsibility for the 36 ministers that I
have.
I don’t think I took anybody among the ministers who has got a case in
court. Tell me one out of the 36. I don’t think I will deliberately make
that mistake”, he said. Asked if he would sack any of the ministers if he
or she is charged to court for corruption, he said: “No, I will insist
that the case go through the courts.”
Also, in a statement signed by Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina,
Buhari appealed to discerning Nigerians to ignore orchestrated attempts to
sully the integrity of ministers and other senior government officials,
who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete
evidence.
Reacting to reports, particularly by online media, that the immediate past
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC), who is also Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, is
being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas liftings during his
tenure as GMD of the petroleum corporation, President Buhari appealed for
decent and civilized comments, particularly when it has to do with the
integrity of those who are serving the country.
“Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not
good. We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people
should please wait till such individuals are indicted,” the President
said.
President Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to probity,
accountability and integrity, promising that transparency remains a
watchword, which would never be trifled with.
Recall that Chief of Army Staff Lt. General Yusuf Tukur Burutai, Mallam
Abba Kyari, Abdullrahman Dambazzau, Abubakar Malami, Audu Ogbe, Heneiken
Lokpobiri and a host of many others in the Buhari’s Government have been
named or linked to allegations of corruption.