NDDC: Malami Speaks On Collecting Bribe From Akpabio

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) has denied collecting bribe from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, in order to support the appointment of a Sole Administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

In a statement issued by his Media Aide, Umar Gwandu, in Abuja, on Friday, Malami said a media report alleging that he collected gratification from Akpabio is fake and marred by contradictions.

He said the report was a figment of the imagination of the writer, sheer fabrications, and filthy assumptions of mischief makers and detractors.

Malami, who noted that gratification was a criminal offence, therefore, called on Nigerians to disregard the publication.

The statement said, “Any discerning mind who read the story will not fail to note the desperate attempt to cast aspersions on the Attorney General of the Federation and dent his hard-earned reputation, with unsubstantiated allegations spread by perfidious elements.

“The Minister, hereby, makes an outright denial of the report in its entirety.

“The Minister has not collected and does not intend at any time to receive any gratification from any dealing in discharging any function he is constitutionally empowered to perform.

“Let individuals who have any information regarding those who facilitated, accepted, delivered, or took part in one way or another in the alleged offer and purported acceptance of gratification for me or my office, come out publicly with the information with a view to exposing them and taking further necessary action’’.