BREAKING: FG Speaks on Meeting with South-South Governor Ahead of Defection

The Federal Government has refuted allegations of a secret meeting between justice officials and a South-South governor ahead of a defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The denial follows claims by Paul Ibe, spokesperson for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who, during a television interview, alleged that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Solicitor General of the Federation met with both a former and a sitting governor from the South-South region just 48 hours before they defected to the APC.

Reacting to the allegation, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, through a statement issued Friday by the Special Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity (Office of the AGF), Kamarudeen Ogundele, strongly dismissed the claims.

“The attention of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice has been drawn to an interview granted on a national TV station by the spokesperson of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Paul Ibe, where he made some contemptuous remarks,” the statement said.

“Mr Ibe had insinuated that the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, met a former and incumbent governor of a South-South state 48 hours to their defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).”

“Although he failed to mention their names, the discerning members of the public know those he could have been referring to.

“However, we wish to state categorically that the allegation is from the pit of hell, and at best, a figment of imagination of Mr Ibe.

“We know as a fact that the EFCC chairman and the Solicitor General of the Federation never met any serving or former governor as alleged by him.”

Ogundele further urged Nigerians to disregard the insinuation, which he described as “a feeble attempt to discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration’s fight against corruption.”

The development comes weeks after Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, along with his cabinet, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.