A Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, stalwart mentioned in the Williams Jefferson’s bribery scandal, Oyewole Fasawe, has defended the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, saying she was not in any way connected to the transaction.
DAILY POST recalled that the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose had on Monday alleged that the President’s wife was the person indicted by a US Court for transferring $170,000 to indicted US Congressman, Jefferson in the Halliburton scandal.
Querying why Mrs Buhari refused to travel with her husband to the United State on three occasions since his assumption of power, Fayose had claimed she had more to reveal.
Fayose had added that rather than attend a conference to which she was invited in the US, Mrs Buhari instead sent the wife of the Senate President, Toyin Saraki.
But Fasawe while responding to this claim in a statement on Wednesday, described Fayose’s accusations as “fallacious, baseless, misinformed and defamatory.”
According to Fasawe, “We were the ones in government, and she was never a member of our party or my business associate. So, how could she have been involved in the first place?
Fasawe said, “I was convinced the Triple Play Cable Television Network was the future of home entertainment in Nigeria.
“I invested considerably in the business – even having to approach my bank for further investments.
“Unfortunately all went down the drain having been dealing with a fraud and a dupe in a person of Jefferson who used his office and the image of his nation to convince me iGate was a reputable Telecommunication Equipment Vendor.”
The PDP chieftain stated that he petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime to help him retrieve the money he invested in the transaction.
He said, “My monies are still tied up in the US.
“It is high time the Nigeria Government liaised with the government of the United States to help me repatriate my monies running into tens of millions of dollars.
“The matter is in court as I speak, with AMCON joined as a party to the suit. This is an opportunity for President Buhari to look into the matter and bring all connected to book. Since the matter is in court, I may not be able to say much.”
Noting that the failed transaction landed him in detention for nearly a year, Fasawe said, “The sad incident caused me money, time and honour.
“So it is very upsetting to have anyone trying to open this old wound and spicing it up with further controversy.
“I, therefore, advise Governor Fayose and his handlers to please desist from this unprovoked attack and unsolicited defamation to the person of Mrs. Aisha Buhari.
“No one should hide behind immunity clause to trample upon the rights and reputation of others with impunity,” he added.
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