Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Kyari, breaks silence on contract fraud allegation

The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abba Kyari, has finally broken his silence on an allegation of contract fraud against him that has gone viral.

Kyari said he has instructed his lawyers to file a libel suit against those who levelled the allegation against him.

During a recent radio programme on Berekete Family Radio 101.1FM, Abuja, one Bako Kyari, who claims to be a nephew to the chief of staff, said Kyari and one Sani Ado, whom he claimed worked with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), collected N29.9 million from him in order to facilitate the award of a contract.

But in an email interview with TheCable Saturday, Kyari said branded the allegation a “malicious story”.

“I have instructed my lawyers to take legal action against all those who have peddled this falsehood,” he said..

He added that no amount of mud “will stick or stain my integrity”.

“There is no iota of truth whatsoever even in dreamland in this malicious story. We cannot allow reasoned and reasonable debate to be hijacked by the frenzied fantasies of a cynical and dishonest minority,” he said.

“A lie becomes no less of a lie simply by repetition.

“I will continue to ensure that business-as-usual is unsustainable, ask questions and question answers – in the interest of our country, above any other consideration,” he said.

Read also: Fayemi, Fayose in war of words over alleged sale of govt properties

His accuser said he had written a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but the commission refused to treat it, insisting that it could not investigate the president’s aide.

The EFCC had however dismissed the claim through its spokesperson, Wilson Uwajaren, on Saturday, acknowledging the petition and stating that investigations were already underway.

Bako, who is from Bama, Borno State, told Berekete Family that when he lost his father, Kyari came to commiserate with the family and then promised him the contract.

He said on getting to Abuja, he met with Kyari at Caledonia Hotel, Maitama, four times.

Bako alleged that Kyari asked him to pay Ado some money to facilitate the award of the contract.

He said he approached a friend who lent him some money, adding that he also sold his property in order to raise the N29.9 million which he allegedly used in facilitating the contract.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now