Adebayo Shittu, former Minister of Communication, has leveled serious allegations against the immediate past government of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming widespread manipulations and fraudulent approvals that adversely impacted the country’s economy.
During an appearance on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Shittu asserted, “There were a lot of manipulations and we even heard that a lot of the so-called approvals did not emanate from President Buhari.”
Shittu, who served as a minister under the Buhari administration, lamented the undue influence wielded by individuals close to the former president, which, according to him, contributed to the economic downturn.
He further elaborated, “There were a lot of manipulations and fraudulent approvals which did not emanate from the President… a lot of it did not get his attention.”
Shittu’s claims echo those made by presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale, who previously stated that numerous approvals for releasing funds within the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during Godwin Emefiele’s tenure as governor lacked Buhari’s signature.
Ngelale highlighted the acknowledgment from President Bola Tinubu, who recognized the absence of Buhari’s signature on many CBN approvals during the previous administration.
While Emefiele, initially appointed by former President Goodluck Jonathan, continued as CBN governor after Buhari assumed office in 2015, he was subsequently removed from the position in June and faces corruption charges.
Shittu urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter, emphasizing the need to uncover how such actions transpired without the president’s knowledge.
“I hope the EFCC will probe properly as to how these things happen without the President knowing,” Shittu concluded, calling for accountability and transparency in governance.