$65m fraud: Buhari’s daughter’s marriage to wanted Kumo crashed years ago – Shehu

 

BY KAZIE UKO

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The Presidency in apparent effort to exonerate President Muhammadu Buhari from complicity in the financial scandal involving his son in-law, Gimba Kumo, mired in $65 million fraud, has revealed that Kumo’s marriage to Fatima crashed “years ago”.

RELIABLESOURCENG.COM had published on Friday a report that the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had declared Gimba Yau Kumo alongside two others, Tarry Rufus and Bola Ogunsola, wanted over an alleged $65 million fraud.

Kumo married Fatima, President Buhari’s second daughter, from his (the President’s) first wife, Safinatu, in an elaborate wedding in 2016.

But the Presidency has denied that Kumo, a former Managing Director, Federal Mortgage Bank, is an in-law to President Buhari.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

READ: Buhari’s son-in-law, Kumo, declared wanted over $65m fraud

According to Shehu, the marriage between Kumo and Fatima had since “ended some years ago”.

The statement read in part: “A running story to the effect that the ICPC has declared ‘an inlaw of the President’ wanted in connection with fraud involving the large sum of money, 65 million dollars to be exact.

“This should normally be an affirmation that our anti-corruption agencies/institutions are truly independent and allowed unfettered freedom by the President. Which in fact is the case.

“That a state institution can issue such is a measure of the administration’s commitment to accountability, equality and justice.

“To set the records straight, the person declared wanted by the ICPC is not an inlaw to President Buhari.

“While at some point in time the said fugitive from justice had been linked to a family member in marriage, that relationship has ended some years ago.

READ: ‘If I go tomorrow, I’ll be grateful for three years extra I had’ – Ferguson

“It is therefore unfortunate to bring the President’s family into this case.

“It is in our view an attempt to generate views and sell copies of sensational reporting.

“The President’s position at all times is that the law be allowed to take its course.

“As is well known of him, President Muhammadu Buhari will not provide any cover for crime, no matter who is involved.”

The presidential aide, however, did not state exactly when the marriage ended, as there had been no formal or previous communication to that effect.