Following the ThisDay report that former President Goodluck Jonathan has
gone into exile in Ivory Coast, SaharaReporters can confirm that Mr.
Jonathan has been away from Nigeria in recent months exploring several
countries in Africa in which he could hide.
This was as information leaked to him that some of his former aides have
revealed to security agencies various acts of serious graft and
mismanagement involving him.
Several of those aides are currently under arrest and interrogation by
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This was as information leaked to him that some of his former aides
have revealed to security agencies various acts of serious graft and
mismanagement involving him.
Several of those aides are currently under arrest and interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
As a way of covering his tracks, Jonathan paid for and arranged
several tours of the United States and the United Kingdom, some of which
included buying awards from available colleges and universities to
create a semblance of popularity.
Sources close to the former President revealed to SaharaReporters
however that most western nations had started asking Mr. Jonathan hard
questions relating to his corrupt activities in office, forcing him to
seek ways of staying out of Nigeria.
He reportedly considered going to Kenya where there were speculations
that he had financial ties to a dairy firm, but the Kenyans reportedly
turned him down claiming the pressure will be too much for them should
he be indicted for corruption and declared wanted.
In opting for Cote d’Ivoire, the former President is going back to an
ally, Alassane Dramane Ouattara, who Jonathan assisted to power in
2010.
Jonathan reportedly used his connections with President Ouattara to
invest in the refinery business in the country our sources revealed.
Ivorian officials in Washington DC told SaharaReporters earlier today
that Mr. Jonathan has been living in Abidjan, the Ivorian capital, for
close to two months but they could not confirm if he has been granted
political asylum there.
Jonathan arrived back in Cote d’Ivoire from a trip to Ecuador about two weeks ago.
Contacted, Kone Seydou, the Cote d’Ivoire government spokesperson,
said the government does not have any official position on Mr.
Jonathan’s presence in the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Jonathan is reportedly sending text messages to his
friends in Nigeria saying that the ThisDay story is an attempt by
publisher Nduka Obaigbena, who was an insider in Jonathan's government,
to “rubbish” him.
Mr. Obaigbena received vast sums of seedy money from the former
National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki which is currently under probe by
the EFCC following his arrest. It is unclear why he would want to
“rubbish” Mr. Jonathan, as has been stated.
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