President Muhammadu Buhari has denied claims in the media that he received $300,000 from Sambo Dasuki as compensation after Boko Haram terrorists attack on his convoy.
It would be recalled that Buhari was attacked in July 2014 by the Boko Haram terrorists on Ali Akilu Road, Kawo-Kaduna and a media report on Monday claimed that the then APC Presidential candidate benefitted from the N10 billion arms deal fund for which Dashiki and Co are standing trial for.
However, in a counter statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Tuesday, President Buhari said he received “nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption” from Mr. Jonathan before or after the attack.
“We unequivocally deny that President Buhari received $300,000.00 or any monetary compensation whatsoever from the Jonathan Presidency or any of its officials, in the aftermath of that attack, or at any other time since then”, the statement read.
“While it is true that one armoured SUV and one untreated SUV were sent to the President in the aftermath of the attack, the vehicles were in keeping with his entitlements as a former Head of State under the Remuneration of Former Presidents and Heads of State (And other Ancillary Matters) Decree of 1999.
“Section 3, Sub Section 1 of that Decree provides that three vehicles will be provided for former heads of state and replaced every four years.
“There was therefore nothing untoward, illegal or tending to corruption in former Head of State Buhari and Presidential aspirant, as he then was, receiving vehicles, to which he was statutorily entitled , from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“President Buhari had in keeping with his austere, spartan and frugal disposition shunned most of his entitlements as a former Head of State, but was prevailed upon by his supporters to accept the two vehicles for his personal safety in the aftermath of the dastardly attempt to assassinate him.
“It is preposterous to think that the President will allow his acclaimed reputation of honesty and incorruptibility to be tarnished by accepting a questionable monetary compensation from a discredited regime.”
By Olisemeka obeche