The Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said that anyone who claims that the President received pensions from the army should face “criminal investigation.”
This was in reaction to a narrative circulating on social media which said he has been receiving double payments from the federal coffers.
The Presidency said all financial gratuities, vehicles and even souvenirs due to Buhari were not paid to him by the Army.
Garba said this on Wednesday, claiming that the President did not receive pension or cars from the army, as did former commanders-in-chief.
“The President has never received pension from the army or car as had gone to former Commanders-in-Chief,” Mr. Shehu said.
“After his overthrow, they didn’t remember him even in the annual distribution of diaries or calendars.”
“Buhari stopped collecting allowances paid to former Heads of State the moment he took office as elected President last year.
“Since his overthrow as military ruler, the army never instituted a pension for him. The army is known to supply cars to former heads of the army. President Buhari never got any of that,” Mr. Shehu said.
Mr. Shehu said before Mr. Buhari was elected president, he did not benefit from vehicle supplies to former Nigerian leaders, a claim he said could be verified at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
“Before this time, the presidency did not supply cars to him as they did the former Heads of State,” Mr. Shehu said. “This is verifiable from the SGF’s office.”