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President Jonathan Never Confrimed Withholding Of $10 Billion From Federation Account-Abati

Presidential Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, says reports in some domestic media which quoted President Goodluck Jonathan as “confirming” in Amsterdam that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) wrongly withheld $10 Billion from the federation account  are completely false and a total distortion of the President’s comments during his meeting with the Nigerian Community in the Netherlands.

According to a press release  dated March 26,  Abati stresses that President Jonathan did not, at any point in time during the meeting with the Nigerian Community, confirm any ”irregularities” in the NNPC.
The statement dismisses contrary media reports on the issue as ”sensational” and, consequently, declares them reckless, mischievous and unprofessional misrepresentations of the President’s restatement to the Nigerian Community of the Federal Government’s position on the allegation that $20 Billion is “missing” from the NNPC or the Federation Account. This, Abati points out, is buttressed by the fact that those who filed such reports were not at the event or even in Holland at all.
The statement credits President Jonathan telling the Nigerian Community that the allegation of missing funds in the  NNPC lacked consistency and credence due to the conflicting sums -$49.8 billion, $12 billion or $20 billion-that were said to be missing.
The statement quotes President Jonathan saying exactly as follows: “As at the time, the Finance Ministry was saying they had not been able to reconcile only 10 billion dollars. There are issues in NNPC but we are on it.”
President Jonathan reportedly went on to reassure Nigerians of  his administration’s continued commitment to openness, transparency and probity in the aftermath of the unsubstantiated allegations, the Federal Government had authorised a professional forensic audit of NNPC accounts to clear the air.
Apparently miffed by the ”mischievous and unethical distortion” of the President’s comments at the meeting in Amsterdam, the Presidency once again, urges the media to show greater regard for truth and accuracy when reporting on the President.