Atiku’s aide calls for probe of alleged payments for ministerial appointments

Paul Ibe, media aide to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has called for an investigation into allegations that some ministers paid billions of naira to secure appointments under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Ibe via his X handle on Friday said the allegations made by an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Alwan Hassan, raised concerns that some ministers were more interested in recovering money allegedly spent to secure their positions than in serving Nigerians.

He called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, to investigate the claims and prosecute anyone found culpable.

He said “Nigerians did not hear this allegation from the opposition. It came from Alwan Hassan, a spokesperson for Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Council, who alleged that some ministers paid billions of naira to secure appointments and subsequently sought to recover their money.

“This is a grave allegation from within the President’s own political camp. It demands answers, not another round of insults directed at the opposition.

“Which ministers paid? Who collected the money? What evidence does Hassan possess? And what does President Tinubu know?

“Long before these remarks, allegations linking Femi Gbajabiamila, the President’s Chief of Staff, to payments for ministerial consideration had surfaced. Hassan’s claims reinforce the need for an independent investigation into the appointment process.

“The danger is obvious: when public office becomes a purchased investment, public service risks becoming an exercise in capital recovery. Citizens seeking better healthcare, education, electricity and jobs become secondary to officeholders seeking returns.

“If Hassan’s allegation is true, Nigerians deserve to know whether their ministries are serving the public or servicing private investments. It raises disturbing questions about the priorities behind this administration’s uninspiring performance.

“Hassan reportedly made these remarks while defending restrictions on funding to ministries. But withholding funds cannot substitute for investigating alleged corruption. Nigerians must not be denied essential services because officials allegedly bought their appointments.

“The EFCC and ICPC should obtain Hassan’s evidence and investigate everyone implicated, irrespective of office or political connection. Were opposition leaders the subjects of these allegations, would the agencies be waiting this patiently? Nigerians deserve the same urgency when allegations concern those in power.

“President @officialABAT must address this matter directly. His campaign cannot ask Nigerians to renew his mandate while its own spokesperson raises questions about whether access to his cabinet carries a price tag.

“Nigeria’s ministries are a public trust. Nigerians deserve ministers committed to public service, not the recovery of an alleged purchase price.”