…Says Story Attributing Vehicle Distribution To Malami Mischievous, Misconstrued Information
Friends and associates of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, donated exotic vehicles of assorted brands to his loyalists in Kebbi State, the minister’s aide, Umar Gwandu, has clarified.
Gwandu said this in a statement on Tuesday, insisting that the minister’s friends also supported his governorship ambition with N135 million.
There have been reports and viral photos insinuating that the AGF allegedly donated sports utility vehicles of assorted brands to All Progressives Congress, APC, politicians in Kebbi State, but Gwandu insisted that his principal’s friends actually gifted the vehicles to “long-term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.”
The Khadimiyya Foundation for Social Justice and Development Initiative is a non-governmental organisation, NGO, based in Kebbi State and Malami is reported to be one of the stakeholders of the NGO.
Kebbi State-born Malami, an APC chieftain, is a two-term member of the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was recently reported to have declared his intention to succeed Governor Atiku Bagudu in May 2023.
Gwandu had said in his statement, “It is abundantly clear that the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has teaming supporters from home and beyond.
“This has been demonstrated not only by the calls from far and near for him to vie for Kebbi State gubernatorial seat in the forthcoming election, but also by donations from friends, associates and supporters of N135 million.
“The recent donation of N135 million has opened doors for donations and supports of many items, including vehicles by well-wishers.
“The story attributing vehicle distribution to Malami was mischievous and misconstrued information. It was friends and associates of Malami who donated and distributed vehicles to long term workers in the Khadimiyya Foundation.
“The occasion was not for distribution of vehicles to any APC stakeholder. None of the APC stakeholders or delegates in Kebbi State was given any vehicle by Malami.
“You can contact the National Secretariat of the APC, get the lists of all the APC stakeholders and delegates in Kebbi State. Do an investigative story to reach out to them then you realise how fictitious is the claim.
“Comparing the names of APC stakeholders and the beneficiaries of the vehicles will reveal to you that there is no connection between the two and the two are not connected whatsoever.”
