According to Ude, the suspended EFCC Boss stole the money when he was presiding over affairs of the anti-corruption agency, and released the N4bn to Osinbajo, the day President Muhammadu Buhari left for his last medical trip in the United Kingdom.
Reacting in a statement issued by his spokesman, Laolu Akande on Wednesday night, the office of the vice president said the reports are totally false and baseless.
“The attention of the Office of the Vice President has been drawn to a series of tweets and online publications by PointBlank News and Newsreel.com.ng today 8th July 2020, credited to the same person, one Jackson Ude.
“In essence, Ude’s story is that “embattled former Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, allegedly embezzled over N39 billion and gave Vice President Yemi Osinabjo (sic) N4 billion, after the VP gave instructions to him to release some of the recovered loots…
“With all emphasis at our disposal, let it be firmly stated that these are totally false and baseless fabrications purporting to reflect goings-on at the Probe Panel investigating Mr. Ibrahim Magu.
“They are indeed completely absurd in every respect. Sadly, such mindless, vicious and reckless publications have now become the preferred tool of unscrupulous and reprobate elements in our society who are procured with monetary inducement to peddle blatant falsehood, tarnish the image of upright public officials and mislead unsuspecting Nigerians.
“Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will of course not be distracted by these obvious campaigns of lies and calumny,” he said.
Magu was arrested by security operatives on Monday, July 6, and taken to the Presidential Villa to face an investigation panel set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The embattled former acting chairman is being interrogated by Ayo Salami-led presidential panel over allegations of gross misconduct against him.
He was, however, suspended by President Buhari on July 7 as acting chairman of the EFCC pending when the panel will conclude their investigation.