'Buhari NOT probing me,' Ex-President dismisses reports

The Federal Government is said to have moved to investigate the former president and his wife Dame Patience, over the allegations that they are sponsoring the activities of Niger Delta Avengers, the militant group responsible for the bombing of oil installations in the region.

In a statement issued by Jonathan's media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, on Thursday, August 18, the ex-president said the probe report is a figment of the authors' imagination.

The statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to two stories entitled “report links Jonathan to Niger Delta Avengers” and “FG probes Jonathan over N/Delta bombings’ published in some newspapers, on Thursday, August 18, 2016, with the claim that some intelligence reports had linked Jonathan to the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta.

“We obviously would have ignored the allegation, having responded recently to the exact same fabrication peddled by a shady militant group, but for the new dimension of bringing in the authorities, while hiding under the often-abused journalism latitude of quoting nebulous sources.

“Firstly, we note that there were similarities in the stories published same day by the newspapers that are too striking to pass the test of the normal newsroom process of diligent reporting and independent investigation.

“We are convinced that such clear coincidences are only permissible in situations where general statements are issued, but not on matters of intelligence/security reports which do not fly into newsrooms as press releases.

“We are also concerned that the stories did not differ in content and substance from the trite allegations earlier made by the so- called Reformed Niger Delta Avengers over the same lies of linking Jonathan to the militants.

“For instance, we are amazed that newspapers would be quick to report that the intelligence gathering was said to be a confirmation of a similar claim by the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta, MEND even without subjecting such frivolity to any ethical interrogation.

“From what we know about intelligence gathering, there is no responsible government agency that would rush, as claimed in the stories, to adopt the accusations of a questionable rebellious organisation as its own findings, without applying the professional processes of rigour and due diligence.

“It is sad that the publications wore the cloak of deceit from same misguided characters that are hell-bent on pulling down the former President, despite his clear record of diligent service to his country and long-standing commitment to the good of society.

“There is no doubt that there exist such people who may have scores to settle with the former President but are now feeling frustrated by the fact that his national and international profile has continued to rise, despite their recourse to less- muck- raking character assassination.

“Such people will stop at nothing to continue to throw obstacles, albeit futilely, on his path.

“We are aware that the same people approached other well-meaning newspapers with the same false information, but they were wise to turn it down on account of its absurdity.

“Our media houses should then be careful not to make the country a laughing stock by being hoodwinked into passing off the perverted voices of irritant groups as that of our well respected official security authorities."

ALSO READ: Jonathan sponsoring Avengers to destabilize Buhari’s government – MEND

The statement warned news organisations not to allow themselves be used by some questionable elements, threatening that they are toying with libel.

However, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has also denied the reports, saying he is not aware of any probe on Jonathan and his wife.