Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked the United States (US) authorities to cooperate fully with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s subpoena over his bank records over the P&ID contracts, stressing that he has no foreign accounts.
The former president explained that the signing of the P&ID contracts preceded his administration, and that that government gave appropriate counsel to the incoming government in the handover notes of 2015.
He added that if that advice was carried out, the current unfortunate circumstances would have been prevented.
Jonathan who noted that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not contact him or his wife before issuing these subpoenas, said while he was President he extended every courtesy to former Presidents and Heads of state, because it is not possible to belittle Nigerians without belittling Nigeria.
He however stated that had he been contacted he would have advised them of the fact that they cannot subpoena what does not exist.
A statement signed by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, said “Our attention has been drawn to international media reports to the effect that the Federal Government of Nigeria has subpoenaed bank records for former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan in the United States of America.
”We aver that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not contact Dr. Jonathan or his wife before issuing these subpoenas. If they had, we would have advised them of the fact that you cannot subpoena what does not exist.
”We also remind the public that on March 5, 2014, during the swearing in of new ministers, then President Jonathan said “I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I don’t have accounts or property abroad.”
”We are confident in stating that between that time and now, nothing has changed with regards to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. He has no accounts in the United States of America, and encourages US authorities to cooperate fully with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s subpoena.
”We would also like to state that during his tenure as President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan extended every courtesy to former Presidents and Heads of state, because he believed and still believes that promoting, projecting and protecting Nigeria’s sovereignty and image is the paramount duty of her government, because it is not possible to belittle Nigerians without belittling Nigeria.
”Finally, we state that the signing of the P&ID contracts preceded the Jonathan administration, and that that government gave appropriate counsel to the incoming government in the handover notes of 2015, which advice, if carried out, would have prevented the current unfortunate circumstances,” he stated.