The first lady of the country, Aisha Buhari has formally sued Governor Ayodele Fayose for claiming that she was involved in the infamous Halliburton corruption scandal.
The governor shortly after his account was frozen by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed in a statement through his media aide that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot say he is free of corruption too as his wife is named in a bribery case involving a convicted former U.S. lawmaker, Williams Jefferson.
Fayose had said: “The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal (sic). When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read.”
In the US Government Sentencing Memorandum that Fayose referred to, it read:
“Government Exhibits 36-87 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as Beneficiary),”
In a swift response, the first lady through her legal team sent a letter to the embattled Ekiti state governor asking him to retract his statement within five days or face the law.
“Demand for unqualified retraction of the false statement published by you in various media on the 20th of June, 2016, and subsequent dates regarding our client, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,”
The governor had however refused to retract his statement and insisted he was right about his allegation.
According to Premium Times, a court order was issued on Wednesday, July 20 although it is not known if the governor will appear in court considering he has immunity against criminal prosecution as a sitting governor
Fayose had said: “The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal (sic). When that American, Jefferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialize the judgment for people to see and read.”
In the US Government Sentencing Memorandum that Fayose referred to, it read:
“Government Exhibits 36-87 (6/26/02 $170,000 wire transfer from account in Nigeria in the name of Aisha Buhari to an account in the name of The ANJ Group, LLC, identifying “William Jefferson” as Beneficiary),”
In a swift response, the first lady through her legal team sent a letter to the embattled Ekiti state governor asking him to retract his statement within five days or face the law.
“Demand for unqualified retraction of the false statement published by you in various media on the 20th of June, 2016, and subsequent dates regarding our client, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,”
The governor had however refused to retract his statement and insisted he was right about his allegation.
According to Premium Times, a court order was issued on Wednesday, July 20 although it is not known if the governor will appear in court considering he has immunity against criminal prosecution as a sitting governor
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