Garba Shehu: We’re expecting millions of dollars from US, not the other way round

Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, says the federal government is expecting to receive millions of dollars which some past government officials took to the US.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari had concluded agreements that would lead to the repatriation of $1 million which Diepreye  Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state, and $480 million that Sani Abacha, stashed in that country.

He said Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation, would soon leave for the US to facilitate the return of the stolen funds.

Shehu was reacting to the report that Buhari donated $500 million to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

TheCable did a fact check on the report and concluded that it is false.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Shehu wrote: “President Buhari does not have such money to throw around”.

“What is the craziest accusation made against President Buhari?” Shehu wrote.

“That he donated USD 500 million to Hillary’s campaign and that Donald Trump is angry. This has gone viral, sadly Nigerians are believing it.

“President Buhari’s Nigeria doesn’t have this kind of money to throw around. Even if the money is there, this president is the least likely person to give it as donation, and for what?

“As we speak, President Buhari is concluding agreements with the US to return our stolen money in their banks. A FGN account has already been given for the return of one million dollars from Alamieyeseigha.

“Judgement on the USD 480 million Abacha loot has been won and our Attorney-General, Malami (SAN) will be in the US next week to speak to the Department of Justice, USDOJ on the next steps for the return of that as well.

“The US is paying to Nigeria, not the other way round, abi?”