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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied receiving the sum of N4 billion from the suspended acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Wednesday, Osinbajo said there was no truth in some reports claiming that he received the said money.
The reports had claimed that Magu told the presidential panel probing him that he gave Osinbajo N4 billion after the vice president asked him to release part of the recovered loot.
But Akande, in a statement made available to journalists, described the reports as false and baseless.
“With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the probe panel investigating Mr Ibrahim Magu. They are indeed completely absurd in every respect.
“Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians,” Akande said.
He stated that Osinbajo would not be distracted by the campaigns of lies and calumny, adding that the online publications, being criminally defamatory in nature, have been referred to the relevant law enforcement agencies for investigation and necessary action.