Presidency denies Freezing Ex-President Jonathan’s account

The Presidency has refuted allegation by demonstrators in Bayelsa on Thursday that allowances due to former President Goodluck Jonathan have been stopped and his bank accounts frozen.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, in a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, said the allegation was `patently untrue’.

He stated that it was on record that all past presidents were paid their various allowances up to the second quarter of 2016.

“We have confirmed with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) that the former president and the other past leaders were paid their allowances up to the second quarter.

“The past leaders have not been paid third quarter allowances but will get their dues when remittances are received by the SGF from the Ministry of Finance.’’

Shehu also described as untrue the alleged closure of former President Jonathan’s accounts, saying that the “story of account closure is false. It is not known to the investigation agencies.

“The National Security Adviser is not aware of this bank account closure; the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS) is unaware of it, the EFCC is unaware and the IG of Police is not in the know.

“With all of these agencies not being involved, how then could a thing like that happen? In a dream perhaps!’’

According to him, there is a clear motive for the demonstration that is different from that which was being canvassed.

He said the demonstration was a premeditated attempt to “blame President Buhari for something he knows nothing about.’’

Shehu stated that the claims were false and poorly sourced to present a picture of vendetta, and they should be disregarded by well-meaning members of the public.

According to him, President Buhari remains committed to the ideals of justice and fairness to all, irrespective of creed, religion and political leanings.

He maintained that the Buhari-led administration would not engage in vendetta.