…Calls On Peoples Gazette To Retract The False, Malicious Report
A group, Northeast Concerned Citizens has berated Peoples Gazette over it’s publication linking a former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Dr. Muhammad Kyari Dikwa, with the alleged stash of $76 million stashed in an Abuja Apartment out of which $4 million was carted away by Scavengers.
The group in a statement on Sunday signed by its National President, Ambassador Umar Mohammad state that the report is riddled with irresponsible falsehoods and fabrications, which we have exposed for the reading and thinking public to see.
It could be recalled that, the online New outlet had reported that, Scavengers allegedly carted away $4 million from a $76 million stashed in an Abuja Apartment by Aisha Odariko and Ex-Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Kyari.
According to the group, in the first instance, if the allegation of money being piled up in a residential building were true, then the narrative presented by Peoples Gazette suggests that the media organization was among the so-called scavengers that perpetrated the robbery operation and used used the story to divert attention from the authorities’ investigation.
It added, “Secondly, it is suspicious how the Peoples Gazette arrived at the conclusion that Dr. Muhammad Kyari Dikwa owned the claimed stockpiled loot or had an affair with NDIC manager Aisha Odariko based solely on the statement provided by her driver, who was found by the police to have led the criminal gang in breaking into a residential property in Apo District of Abuja.
“The Peoples Gazette unwittingly displayed the clear political motivation behind this report when it listed Dr. Dikwa’s achievements: “Mr. Kyari Dikwa’s public profile touted his role in fostering enduring government reforms such as the introduction of the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), Treasury Single Account (TSA), Asset Tracing Team (ATT), Whistleblowing Policy, Fiscal Sustainability Plan (FSP), and Strategic Revenue Growth Initiative (SRGI), among others”.
According to the group, the same news outlet also mentioned Kyari’s involvement in revenue management as well as serving as a director of funds at the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The group added, “In the private sector, they referenced his work experience at Transcorp Hilton and the Transition Company of Nigeria.This particular excerpt from the story reveals the organization’s clear bias rather than a genuine investigation into corruption of public interest.
“Notably, the report failed to mention the name of the security agency responsible for investigating the alleged stockpiled looted public funds.
“The purported scavengers are now at large, having escaped from prison custody. The story is rife with inconsistencies, leading one to suspect that this is indeed corruption fighting back. Otherwise, we see no reason why an incident that they alleged occurred in 2020 is now being repackaged and circulated.
“Many Nigerians can attest to the extent of the loopholes regarding ghost workers and other forms of massive public corruption within the civil service, which Dr. Dikwa’s initiatives had addressed in Nigerian public institutions”.
The group further noted that, throughout his career as a civil and public servant, Dr. Dikwa has not been indicted for any form of corruption, and no money was reported missing under his watch and has received numerous national and international service awards in recognition of his excellence.
The group noted thus, “Through this medium, the Northeast Concerned Citizens implore the Peoples Gazette to retract this false, malicious report and refrain from willfully damaging the character of our sons who have served this nation with dedication and perseverance.
“It is imperative that Nigerian media regulatory agencies and the government intervene to prevent such irresponsible use of the media”.
