Aisha Buhari, wife of Nigeria’s president, General Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 wrote to Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose demanding a retraction of his claims that she was named in the bribery case involving disgraced former US lawmaker, Williams Jefferson.
According to Premium Times, an online newspaper and a spirited defender of Mrs. Buhari on this scandal, the letter was sent via courier to Governor Fayose on Wednesday.
In a warning letter from Nigerian law firm, Mary Ekpere & Co, Aisha Buhari said Fayose’s action was directly responsible for the publication of the “very wild and unfounded” allegations in the media.
The subject of the letter is, “Demand for unqualified retraction of the false statement published by you in various media on the 20th of June, 2016, and subsequent dates regarding our client, Her Excellency, Mrs. Aisha Buhari the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR,”
In it, reportedly, Aisha Buhari gave Governor Fayose five working days to retract the statement or face legal action.
“Our client has referred to us statement made by you and published on the 20th of June, 2016 (and other subsequent days) concerning and pertaining to her person for necessary action.
“The said statement which was caused by you and your agents to be widely circulated and published in various media platforms: print, electronic and online on 20th of June, 2016, contains very wild, unfounded and false allegations and imputations against the person of our client.
“Specifically, in the said statement credited to you and signed by your Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, you, inter alia, false stated as follows:
“”Even the president cannot claim to be an angel. The estate he built in Abuja is known to us. His wife was indicted over the Halliburton Scandal (sic). When that American, Jeferson, was being sentenced, the President’s wife was mentioned as having wired $170,000 to Jefferson. Her name was on page 25 of the sentencing of Jefferson. We can serialise the judgement for people to see and read.
“Take notice that unless you and your agents meet our humble demands within 5 (five) working days of the receipt of this letter, we shall take all necessary steps within the contemplation of the law to seek redress for our client.”
Madam, Visit US And Clear Your Name – Fayose
Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has challenged wife of Nigeria’s president and first lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, to travel to the United States of America to prove her innocence in the Halliburton scam.
In a statement released on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 and signed by his chief press secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor commented on the alleged involvement of President Buhari’s wife, Aisha Buhari challenging her to visit the United States of America.
Such a move, Fayose maintained would convince convince Nigerians that she was not the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the judgment which convicted disgraced US congressman, William Jefferson.
Governor Fayose said, “It is on record that the president has visited the United States of America three times and his wife did not travel with him. Equally, she ought to have visited the US last year September to chair a United Nation programme but she sent wife of the senate president, Dr. Toyin Saraki to represent her.”
Fayose Exposes Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari
The Ekiti state governor on Monday, June 20, 2016 distributed a link to the US Department of Justice’s website where court documents mentioning Aisha Buhari as one who aided the transfer of bribes to Jefferson, an American lawmaker who was convicted of corruption in 2009 and is currently serving his sentence in a US prison.
Aisha Buhari was named in the infamous Halliburton bribery case according to United States government documents.
Mr. Fayose broadcast this fact on Monday, June 20, 2016, soon after announcing that Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had ordered a freeze on his personal bank account.
Her husband, President Buhari had issued an insult-filled press statement on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 in response to Fayose’s allegation threatening legal action and demanding that Fayose provide proof that the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the corruption scandal which took down US congressman, William Jefferson was indeed his wife.
But, not satisfied with the statement from the presidency defending her honour, Aisha Buhari took to micro-blogging website, Twitter, to lash out at Fayose calling him a mad dog.
The Other Aisha Speaks Out From US
Meanwhile, a US-based woman, Aisha Buhari whose passport is being circulated by online supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as the woman mentioned in the William Jefferson bribery scandal has denied any involvement in the case.
In a report by The Street Journal, Ms. Aisha Buhari told the news magazine that her passport was stolen in 2015 and that Nigerian politicians were dragging her name into this scandal to cover up their corruption. Online newspaper, TheCable, had reported the story exclusively showcasing Ms. Buhari’s passport.
An individual, who identifies as an All Progressives Congress supporter, had shared the full image of Ms. Buhari’s travel passport to one of The Trent’s editors on Tuesday, June 21, 2016. He claimed that the woman in the photo was the Aisha Buhari mentioned in the William Jefferson bribery scandal. Normally, we wouldn’t publish this image, but it has already been circulated widely.
