Arise TV Morning Show anchor and former presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati, has vehemently denied claims that he approached former Rivers State Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to beg for money.
The denial comes in response to statements made by Lere Olayinka during an interview on Arise TV, where allegations were raised about Abati’s conduct.
Abati in statement issued on Saturday, dismissed the claims made by Lere as outright falsehoods.
“I have never approached Nyesom Wike to beg for money – that is a lie. If anyone – including an ex-partner – went to him under false pretences to solicit funds in my name, place a clear disclaimer. Such actions were not authorised by me, and Minister Wike reserves every right to call it out as fraud”, he said.
He also addressed his past interactions with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abati clarifyied that while he was invited for questioning, a routine procedure, he was never asked to return any money.
“Like many others, I was invited by the EFCC for questioning – a lawful and procedural engagement. At no time was I asked to return any money. In fact, the EFCC under Former Chairman, Ibrahim Magu later apologized to me.
“In fact, the EFCC under former Chairman Ibrahim Magu later apologized to me,” he stated.
Abati took issue with Olayinka’s choice of words, particularly the use of “hubris,” suggesting that a simple dictionary check would have sufficed. He declined further engagement, stating: “I will not indulge in responding to him directly; he is not my peer. I await a more meaningful conversation, if any, from his principal, not his proxy.”
He also denied being a spokesperson for former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, adding, “Nor do I have his phone number. That’s a fabrication.”
Defending his integrity, Abati emphasised that his absence from The Morning Show on Friday was due to a prior commitment—a book review for “Oprah Benson – Live and Legend,” a 550-page work by Dr. Udu Yakubu. “It was an honourable intellectual commitment, he said.
He reiterated his stance on public accountability, stating: “I stand firmly by everything I said regarding Minister Wike. He is a public official occupying a public office. He is, and should remain, subject to public scrutiny. Nobody in public service is above accountability.”
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