TheCable

Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger state, says a former governor and female minister were in charge of the money which was shared before the 2015 elections.

He said this while responding to the inclusion of his name in the looters list recently released by the federal government.

Arguing that the list is skewed and incomplete, Aliyu wondered why the names of “corrupt” members of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) were omitted.

In the list released by Lai Mohammed, minister of information, on Sunday, Aliyu was alleged to have partaken in the sharing of N1.6 billion from the office of the national security adviser.

But reacting through a statement signed by Israel Ebije, his media adviser, Aliyu said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invited beneficiaries of the loot and they have agreed to return the money.

He said there was no way he could have taken the money because at the time it was shared, he was excluded on the grounds that he was the leader of the G-7.

The G-7 comprises of the governors who broke away from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2013.

“I have never been mentioned in any ONSA disbursement since 2015. I have no case with the federal government over the alleged disbursement or any other. I have every reason to believe the looters list in which my name was included was drafted to tarnish me before right thinking Nigerians,” he said.

“I believe somebody somewhere is leveraging on the unfortunate case I have with the Niger state government to present a bogus dragnet of alleged looters. Let me therefore urge the federal government to de-list me immediately from the alleged looters.

“I demand that my name be cleared on this matter. I may consider other options as a citizen whose right as guaranteed by the constitution of the federal government has been breached. I will not be used to serve interest of anybody or political party. I will not allow this matter to slide without justice.”