Magu trial: Osinbajo cautions against blackmail
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has cautioned against lies and propaganda being spread to malign his office.
There have been reports linking Osinbajo with slush funds the former Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) was said to have embezzled.
The reports have been largely unverified and neither have they been confirmed by any legal authority though have been the bout of slanderers in the social media.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Olaolu Akande in a statement made available to Irohinoodua berated those speading the rumour.
He said “The attention of the Office of the Vice President has been drawn to a series of tweets and online publications by PointBlank News and Newsreel.com.ng today 8th July 2020, credited to the same person, one Jackson Ude.”
Akande said in essence, Ude’s story is that “embattled former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly embezzled over N39 billion and gave Vice President Yemi Osinabjo (sic) N4 billion, after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots…” The same Jackson Ude has also been circulating a video on YouTube with a female commentator, peddling the same lies.
“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” Akande said.
The spokesperson sair 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.
He said the 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.