The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),Atiku Abubakar has rubbished allegations of corruption levelled against him by the federal government.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Public Communications, Mr. Phrank Shaibu said there was no evidence whatsoever to suggest that the former vice President benefitted from any N156m payment from the defunct Platinum Habib Bank of Nigeria as alleged by the Minister of Information and Culture,Lai Mohammed.
The statement said the APC-led federal government is jittery of impending defeat at next month’s polls and had resorted to desperate antics after they failed to stop the PDP candidate from traveling to the United States.
“It is disgusting to continue to spin allegations of corruption against me by people who have failed to come forward with a single shred of evidence of my misconduct while in office.
“Isn’t it a shame that the ruling party whose National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole only yesterday gave official confirmation to the general belief that, even if Lawrence Anini becomes an APC member today, Buhari will forgive and consecrate him can turn around to accuse me of corruption today? They just suddenly woke up to the reality that their lies about Atiku being corrupt can no longer hold?
“I challenge the federal government to come up with evidence that I benefitted from N156 million slush funds through Claremont Management Services Account on 13th January, 2009 as well as the collapse of Bank PHB as they have alleged.
“It is instructive to note that the same BankPHB is now Keystone bank which was said to have been acquired by Buhari’s cronies through AMCON last year.
“Tell them that their days of deceit are numbered.
“Nigerians are tired of them and they can no longer lie or take the people for a ride anymore,” the statement said.
Lai Mohammed on Friday in Abuja told State House correspondents that the federal government will question Atiku on return from United States over N156m payment he got from the defunct PHB.
Atiku who travelled to United States on Wednesday is expected back to the country today.