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The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu
Buhari to come out clear on allegations of corruption and sharp
practices that have pervaded the recovery of the N1.03tn fine imposed on
MTN Nigeria.
A statement signed by Kola Ologbondinyan, spokesman of the Party
challenged the Buhari’s Presidency to explain the curious N500million
professional fees paid out to unnamed lawyers.
The statement reads:
“The PDP said President Buhari and his administration have a lot of
questions to answer on how the fine was reduced to N330 billion,
particularly on the face of allegations that certain interests in the
Presidential villa, said to be very close to President Buhari, allegedly
took a bribe of N500 million before the reduction.
“It is, to say the least, disgusting that while this allegation of
bribery at the Villa has remained uncleared by the Presidency, President
Buhari, the same African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion, on
Wednesday, approved the frittering of another N500 million from the same
fund, under controversial claims of professional fees to unnamed persons
for unspecified services.
“For a government that prides itself as fighting corruption, the nation
had long expected Mr. President to clear the air on the sordid
allegation of bribery in the Presidential Villa. Rather than progressing
in that direction, President Buhari has continued to act as if the
demand by Nigerians, to know the truth about the alleged bribery in the
villa over the payment of MTN fine, does not matter.
“Furthermore, the PDP challenges President Buhari to come out clear on
the basis for the purported N500million professional fee. What due
process instruments did he rely upon? Who are these lawyers? Who
contracted them; under what terms and what services did they render that
was beyond the Attorney General of the Federation and the team of
lawyers at the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and the Ministry
of Justice?
“Now that it has become clear that the Buhari Presidency is entangled in
sleazes over the NTN fine saga, the PDP charges President Buhari to end
his concealment of corruption in the villa and show his sincerity by
allowing an open inquest into his administration’s dealings on the MTN
fine payment.”