’I m not a looter, Aliyu tells FG, demands apology

By Aideloje Ojo Minna A former governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has said it was not correct to include his name amongst the federal government’s list of looters in which he was said to have participated in sharing of N1.6 billion.
Aliyu, in a statement issued in Minna yesterday, said at the time the money was shared he was the leader of the G-7, and was left out of the sharing arrangement.
He argued that his relationship with the government at the centre was frosty at the time, insisting that the money was released to a former governor and female minister from the state now under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the sharing of the said money.
He added that those involved had confessed and agreed to refund in installments and that the matter was already in public domain.
“My attention has been drawn to the federal government’s list where I was mentioned to have received the sum of N1.
6 billion from the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Let me categorically state, for the records, that I never received such amount from the Jonathan’s administration.
As leader of the G-7, I was not considered loyal enough to be entrusted with the fund, which as we may all recall was meant for campaign.
“I have every reason to believe the looters list in which my name was included was drafted to tarnish me before right thinking Nigerians.
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 delist me immediately,” he said.
Demanding that his name be cleared on this matter, he said he might “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.”