Garba Shehu, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says the transfer of N12.5 million to PMB estate has nothing to do with the president.
In a statement on Friday, Shehu said a document on the transition is being circulated to tarnish Buhari’s image.
He explained that the PMB estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, which was inaugurated by the president but owned by the Ogun state government.
He added that the estate was simply named after the president to honour him.
“Fake news industry at work. A certain document showing the transfer of N12,500,000 from the Coffers of the Ogun State to a “PMB Estate” is being circulated to tarnish the image of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) Estate is a large housing scheme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. It was commissioned by President Buhari in the course of a State visit.
“PMB Estate is owned by the Ogun State government, which honoured the President by naming it after him of cause that does not confer the ownership of the Estate to President Buhari.”
Shehu, who described the president as a “tried and tested anti-corruption fighter”, said any news stating that Buhari is the beneficiary of the transfer should be ignored.
“The gossipy online newspaper, peddling the falsehood that the President, Muhammadu Buhari, the tried and tested anti-corruption fighter is the beneficiary of this cash transfer should be ignored,” he said.
“Before his election as civilian President, Muhammadu Buhari was a military pensioner and had never registered a company in his name or that of a proxy.”
He added the the president has never registered a company in his name.
According to Shehu, the official who posted the clarification of payment voucher on Twitter confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun state revenue account to the account.
“To set the record straight, we spoke with the official who posted the clarification of the payment voucher on Twitter. He worked with the Governor Amosun administration,” he wrote.
“He confirmed that the payment was made from the Ogun State Revenue Account to The PMB Estate Account for some work done on the Estate. Absolutely nothing to do with President Muhammadu Buhari.”