WIFE of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari, has a refuted media reports that she had abused her privilege or engaged in corrupt acts on her recent trips to the United Kingdom.
Responding to latest allegation published by an online news platform, her Special Assistant on media, Adebisi Ajayi, described as ridiculous in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, what she said were attempts to smear her.
It said the continuous publication of “unfounded stories” by the platform was becoming a great concern, saying “After our last rejoinder, we expected the paper to come out with concrete evidence of deliberate fraud or abuse of privileges, or be bold enough to own up and apologize for such hazy and unsubstantiated report.
“Alas, what Sahara Reporters came up with was another conjecture of a purported internal memo within the Consulate, which has no direct link to Her Excellency.
“The new accusation, however, has still not been able to substantiate where Aisha Buhari made any direct contact with the mission for anything.
“The High Commission has its internal administrative procedure, and it’s not within the purview of the wife of the President to ask for diplomatic files.
“Furthermore, that the said memo showed little or no knowledge of Her Excellency’s itinerary proves the simple fact we earlier submitted that she had no direct business with the embassy to warrant the accusation of waste or corruption insinuated in the report.”
According to the statement, part of the wife of the President’s trips abroad were made on behalf of her Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), “which is not funded by the government, and It is not uncommon to have stop over in Britain like any other country as the case may be.
“According her VIP treatment is simple protocol for a personality of her status, which is done all over the world, and at no point was she offered anywhere else.”
While noting that the Nigerian High Commission provided “the lounge and Hajiya Buhari was not involved in the transaction,” it stated: “This is even a far cry from the £32,000 expended in the past as landing fees for private jets of former first ladies.
“Attending an international women function with the Governors’ wives couldn’t have been linked to the bogus allegation of corruption made by Sahara Reporters’ spurious headline earlier on, as these are approved trips.
“It will be to the credit of Sahara Reporters to carry out a thorough check if the so called monies (£3,500) spent for whatever reason by the High Commission has any direct link with Hajia Aisha Buhari.
“That is responsible journalism.”