President Goodluck Jonathan has refuted reports in some domestic media quoting him as confirming in Amsterdam that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wrongly withheld $10bn from the Federation Account.
A statement by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati described the reports as completely false and a total distortion of the president’s comments during his meeting with the Nigerian community in the Netherlands.
Abati maintained that at no time during the well-attended reception did President Jonathan also confirm any irregularities in the NNPC. He branded sensational reports in the media to that effect as reckless, mischievous and unprofessional misrepresentations of the president’s restatement to the Nigerian community of the Federal Government’s position on the allegation that $20bn is ‘missing’ from the NNPC or the Federation Account, by reporters who were not at the event or even in Holland at all.
“President Jonathan’s verifiable words while responding to questions from members of the community on the allegation and other domestic issues were clear and unambiguous”, Abati said.
“After asserting that allegation that various sums — $49.8bn, $12bn or $20bn — were missing are inconsistent and lacked credence, the president’s exact words were as follows: ‘As at the time, the Finance Ministry was saying they had not been able to reconcile only $10bn. There are issues in NNPC but we are on it’”.
According to Abati, President Jonathan went on to say that to reassure Nigerians of his administration’s continued commitment to openness, transparency and probity in the aftermath of the unsubstantiated allegations, the Federal Government had authorised a professional forensic audit of NNPC accounts to clear the air.
“The Presidency deplores the mischievous and unethical distortion of his comments in the media today”, he added. “Once again, we urge the media to show greater regard for truth and accuracy when reporting on the president”.
