Forner Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted media reports credited to a Prisons official that he was among prominent politicians that paid a visit to former Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang, held on court orders in Jos prison over allegations of money laundering and misappropriation.
Mr Luka Ayedoo, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Plateau Command of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), was quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos as saying that the Waziri Adamawa was among guests of the former Governor.
His words: “At the weekend, we received Prof. Jerry Gana, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, senators and other notable Nigerians who came on solidarity visit to Senator Jonah Jang.
“Even though Jang is in prison custody, he still reserves the right to be visited and so we won’t deny him that right.”
Justice Daniel Longji of the Plateau High Court, Jos, last week ordered that the Senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly be remanded in prison after refusing him bail.
In a statement from his office, the nation’s former number two man said: “It has come to our notice that there is a report in a section of the media purporting that His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, visited former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang in Jos Prison.
“That report, as it relates to the former Vice President, is in its entirety false and mere fabrication.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Atiku Abubakar has been in Yola, Adamawa State since Thursday for the activities of the 10th Commencement Ceremony and Presidential Inauguration of American University of Nigeria, Yola.
“The Waziri Adamawa on Thursday attended the Honours Society event of the university.
“On Friday, Atiku Abubakar joined the Yola Ummah at the first Juma’at prayer of this year’s Ramadan at the Yola Central Mosque and later graced the Graduation Awards Ceremony of AUN.
“On Saturday, Atiku Abubakar attended the 10th graduation ceremony of AUN which was widely reported in the media.
“The former Vice President arrived in Yola International Airport in the morning of Thursday, 17th May and still remains in Yola till today.
“Therefore, he was not, and could not have been in Jos as being claimed in a section of the media.”
