The office of the President through its Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu has debunked claims made by Prof. Farooq Kperogi that President Muhammadu Buhari spent a whooping sum of £6m to treat his ear infection in the United Kingdom in June.
The Special Assistant made this known through a post on Facebook on Sunday night stating that the treatment did not cost more than £50,000 (N20.5m). He also threw jibes at the Professor.
He noted the president’s stance on the issue of accountability and his bid to block leakages and excesses, the special adviser stated that even though more than £50,000 was approved for Buhari’s treatment, the president rejected it.
“The disclosure on Prof. Farooq Kperogi’s wall that President Muhammadu Buhari’s ear treatment in the United Kingdom cost a whopping £6m must have shocked many of the respected scholar’s followers.
“I’m prepared to share documents with Farooq, one of the brightest ever produced from the Bayero University Kano that the whole treatment, including a follow-up visit by a specialist to Nigeria didn’t cost £50,000.
“For the records, the administration advanced a higher sum, but the President’s doctor returned the balance to the treasury.
“Indeed, it’s a New Day, and President Buhari’s change mantra is real. Let no one confuse my fellow countrymen and women,” Shehu revealed in his post.
He went further as he did not fail to drag former first lady- Dame Patience Jonathan into the mix, making reference to $15m she said was meant for her medical bill after EFCC traced the money to some companies’ accounts as well as mock Kperogi.
“The story reads like an incredible tale by moonlight that belongs to a different era, which fortunately is now history. That’s when a fortunate lady saved $15m for medical treatment!”
“But was it possible that the account of this balanced journalism teacher was hacked? I will give him the benefit of the doubt.”
He stated emphatically that President Buhari would have rejected the bill if the doctor had charged him £6m.
“Given the austere President we have, Muhammadu Buhari would not have approved this amount if he was shown a £6m bill. I won’t be surprised if the President may have asked if the fat bill was for the purchase of a brand new pair of ears!”
