Former Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, has made startling allegations of manipulations and fraudulent approvals during the tenure of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari. Shittu, who served as a minister under Buhari’s administration, claimed that certain individuals close to the former president exploited their positions, leading to economic downturns.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Shittu responded to assertions about the previous government resorting to printing money to sustain the economy. He stated, “Let me tell you, there were a lot of manipulations and we even heard that a lot of the so-called approvals did not emanate from President Buhari.” He further alleged, “There were a lot of manipulations and fraudulent approvals which did not emanate from the President.”
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Shittu asserted that many decisions were made without Buhari’s knowledge or consent, suggesting a lack of oversight. He emphasized, “I am telling you confidently that a lot of it did not get his attention.” According to Shittu, individuals around the president exploited their relationships and collaborated with the then-Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
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These claims align with statements made by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, who previously mentioned that numerous approvals within the CBN lacked Buhari’s signature. Ngelale highlighted former President Goodluck Jonathan’s appointment of Godwin Emefiele as CBN governor, and despite Buhari’s retention of Emefiele upon assuming office in 2015, approvals continued without Buhari’s direct involvement.
The revelations by Shittu and Ngelale raise questions about the governance and oversight mechanisms during Buhari’s administration, particularly regarding financial decisions and approvals within the CBN.