A former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has dissociated himself from funds allegedly diverted by the erstwhile National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, saying his linkage with N1.7billion transfers is false.
In a statement made available on Wednesday, the former Director of Publicity for the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign Organisation said he was neither given N1.7billion by Mr. Jonathan nor Mr. Dasuki.
“I have never received one kobo from President Jonathan himself, Colonel Dasuki or any other member of President Jonathan’s government,” he said.
” I have not ever been in receipt of any public funds and neither was I the beneficiary of any payments in cash, transfer, cheque or otherwise from any government official during the tenure of President Jonathan.
“As Director of Media and Publicity of the Jonathan/Sambo Campaign organisation I received money on behalf of the Directorate of Media and Publicity which I headed from private individuals and companies during the election campaigns but these were not public funds but rather private contributions specifically for the Presidential and other campaigns.
“Such moneys were transfered into my account by the Director of Finance of the Presidential Campaign Organisation and that account was specifically set up for the purpose of running the publicity and media aspect of the campaign for the whole country and my Directorate. ”
Mr. Fani-Kayode further explained that the “private individuals” and companies paid their contributions into a designated account which was provided and controlled by the Director of Finance and that from there, she transferred it to the accounts of the various directors and individuals that ran for public offices that the PCO supported.
“The money that was sent to me for my Directorate by the Director of Finance was used in a lawful and responsible manner and by the time the campaigns were over my Directorate had paid all of its bills for services rendered and was not owing any media house or anyone else one kobo,” he said.
According to Mr. Fani-Kayode, President Jonathan, the D-G of the PCO, the Auditor of the PCO, the Advisor to the PCO and the Director of Finance of the PCO received reports and saw the results of the efforts of his Directorate and expressed their satisfaction and commendations.
He noted that even though his party ended up losing the election, the PCO ran a strong and virile campaigns, stating that the encounter with the APC was an epic one and probably the most active and gruelling electoral battle in the history of Nigeria.
“Not one kobo of public funds was spent by or given to my Directorate during the campaign and as far as I am aware not one kobo of public funds was spent by or given to the PCO,” he said.
“Presidential campains all over the world cost huge amounts of money and Nigeria is no different.
This is especially so when it comes to publicity and media. My Directorate was difficult to run and our work was capital intensive. We did not use marshmellows, pebbles and grass to pay for all the services rendered to us and all the television and newspaper adverts were fully paid for with money.”
Mr. Fani-Kayode asserted that nothing was done or given to his campaign organisation free of charge, as such it was not surprising as the APC and President Buhari’s campaign organisation did the same.
“I opened an account specifically for the funds that were used to run my Directorate and fund all our activities in order to ensure accountability and transparency,” he said.
“We also audited our accounts regularly and insisted on the highest level of professionalism from all those that worked for or with us.
“Since when such matters have become a crime or subjects of criminal investigations I dont know. If it was a crime to speak up for Jonathan during the campaign they should just say so.
“If it is a crime to be a member of the PDP and to be in opposition they should just say so. If it is a crime to speak up for and defend President Jonathan and key members of his government after he has left office they should just say so.
“If it is a crime to oppose the Buhari administration and speak up against his gross violations of human rights that they are indulging in and the violation of court orders they should just say so.”
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