Babalele Abdullahi, son-in-law of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has denied making cash donation of N50 million to Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Igbere TV reports.
Earlier reports had said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) linked the said amount to former President Olusegun Obasanjo which the commission alleged to be ill-gotten.
A statement on Monday by Atiku’s media office said Mr Abdullahi made a donation of N50 million by wire transfer and that the funds came from legitimate sources.
The statement said: “For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Babalele Abdullahi, Atiku Abubakar’s son-in-law, did not donate any money in cash to the Olusegun Obasanjo Library.
Yes, he did facilitate a donation of fifty million naira to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, but so did many other individuals, including civic-minded traditional rulers, state Governors, bankers and captains of industry.
“This is because the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library is a non-governmental organisation that plays a pivotal role in promoting peace and stability in Nigeria, and that should be applauded.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Mallam Abdullahi’s donation of fifty million naira was made via a bank transfer, in full compliance with the law. He did not donate or make any payment in cash, as the EFCC is erroneously and salaciously misleading the public.
“Furthermore, the sources of these funds are completely legitimate and have been conclusively proven to the EFCC. It is instructive to note that even the EFCC has not once claimed these funds to be the proceeds of any illegal activity whatsoever.
“The truth is that there is desperation on the part of the current administration to rope in former President Olusegun Obasanjo into a crime as a way of silencing his voice, which they see as the preeminent critical voice against the misrule that they have foisted on Nigerians.”
