Isa Ali Pantami, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economics, has denied reports that he recently purchased three new houses for his three wives in Abuja.
Sahara Reporters had published photos of three houses the Minister allegedly purchased for his wives.
However, in a statement released by his media aide, Pantami denied the allegation.
Describing the report as false, the Minister said he hasn’t purchased a single house in any part of the world since he assumed office. According to him, he earns less as a Minister than when he was a lecturer at the International University Madinah in Saudi Arabia
Read the statement below
MINISTER PANTAMI HAS NOT PURCHASED A SINGLE HOUSE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD SINCE ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE
Our attention has been drawn to the grave falsehood Published by controversial online media, Sahara Reporters against the person of Honourable Minister Dr Isa Ali Pantami. The online media, has falsely accused him of procuring three houses within the period of his assumption of office.
For the purpose of setting the records straight, the Honourable Minister has not purchased a single property anywhere In the world, in the period he has been in office as a Minister. One of the apartments in the images published is one which the Honourable Minister has occupied since January 2017, more than two years before becoming a minister, while the other one is a house he rented since 17th December 2019. Two of the images are not even known to him.
It is worthy of note that as a serving Minister, Dr Pantami’s salaries and allowances fall below his earnings as a Professor at the International University Madinah Saudi Arabia, where he still holds the record of being the first Nigerian to lecture at that level. He only returned to Nigeria out of the zeal to contribute his quota to national development.
Dr Pantami is one of the few Nigerians who are driven by nothing, but an unequalled sense of patriotism and selfless service as demonstrated in his act of sacrifice, to answer the call to serve his country as a sign of his patriotism and selfless service. As a successful businessman in his own right who has been comfortable in life, he has carved a niche for himself in his character, deep sense of responsibility and successful feats.
Dr Pantami’s integrity and credibility precede him, and his fight against corruption in both official and personal capacities have become a reference point not only nationally, but globally.
The general public is advised to ignore all attempts to slander the name and image of the Honourable Minister. In the same vein, we plead with the Nigerian media to deploy the strategies of investigative journalism and avoid false sensationalism inorder to uphold the tenets of the noble pen profession.
Signed
Uwa Suleiman (Mrs)
Spokesperson to the Honourable Minister of Communications & Digital Economy
3rd July 2020
