Presidency Cautions Appointees, Aides Against Extortions

The Presidency has issued a stern warning to political appointees, government officials and party men against influence peddling for corrupt pecuniary gains and other forms of extortion.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, told State House Correspondents on Tuesday in Abuja that complaints of extortions of innocent people by what he called “self-serving name droppers and influence peddlers” is causing increasing embarrassment to the Presidency.

According to Shehu, “President Buhari had made it very clear since his inauguration that he won’t tolerate any form of impropriety by his appointees, aides, and government officials who abuse and misuse their offices for illegal financial advantages.”

The media aide explained that using one’s office or influence for private advantage or financial gains is corruption, warning that “the President would not tolerate any conduct by anybody to use his name to extort innocent people.”