You lied, Jonathan replies Osinbajo

A former President, Goodluck Jonathan, on Tuesday said Vice President Yemi Osinbajo lied over claims that the Jonathan administration embezzled some funds a few weeks to the 2015 general elections.

Mr. Jonathan’s reaction was contained in a statement by his former spokesperson, Reno Omokri. The former president told Premium Times he stood by that response.

Mr. Osinbajo had on Monday said N100 billion and a separate $289 million were embezzled by officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, a few weeks to the 2015 elections.

The vice president, who made this revelation while speaking at the 7th Quarterly Business Forum (QBF) held at the State House, Abuja, said the economic woes being faced by Nigerians today were caused by the corruption of the former administration.

He also alleged that the strategic alliance contracts signed by Mr. Jonathan’s government with the NNPC and NDPC were used to embezzle money by the promoters.

But on Tuesday, Mr. Omokri challenged Mr. Osinbajo to publish evidence that the former president shared the alleged amount before the election.

He also accused Mr. Osinbajo of repeatedly lying, saying the “vice-president has again surrendered his lips to Satan to be used to spread slander and lies”.

“Nigerians may recall that lying is the most consistent achievement of Professor Osinbajo’s almost three years as vice-president,” he said.

“On this most recent allegation by vice-president Osinbajo, let me state categorically that former President Jonathan did not share 150 billion two weeks to the 2015 election.

“If professor Osinbajo has proof that former President Jonathan did so, then we challenge him to publish his proof. He is a professor of law and ought to know that he who alleges must prove.