The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) on Monday, insisted that no money was stolen or embezzled from the Paris-London Club refunds to states.
The Head, Media and Public Affairs at NGF Secretariat, Mr Abulrazque Barkindo said this in a statement in Abuja.
Barkindo denied allegation that Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Chairman of the Forum was building a $3million hotel from monies stolen from refunds to states.
“The reports contain harmful, damaging and libelous insinuations which remain largely unsubstantiated, despite the fact that it attributes the leaks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials in Lagos.
“Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar has said emphatically that he does not even own a plot of land in Lagos not to talk of a hotel.
“Gov. Yari is not building any hotel in Lagos nor were any monies stolen or embezzled from the Paris-London Club refunds to states or from any other source.
“This is perhaps why the EFCC has lost most of the high-profile corruption cases at the law courts after it had unfairly stage-managed media trials and caused their victims personal pain and public umbrage.
“This report, typical of most of the exclusive leaks that are becoming characteristic of the sources that court some sections of the media, lacks detail and compelling evidence to be fit to print.
“This does no service to any investigation nor does it help the development of our country Nigeria.
“The media, we all know, is entitled to perform its duties as watchdog of society, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“It is not, however, entitled to make unfair attacks, based on unfounded, false and unsubstantiated allegations against responsible public office holders,” he said.
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