President of African Development Bank (AfDB) Akinwumi Adesina has stood in the defence of Nigeria’s former military ruler Yakubu Gowon against allegation the latter laundered half of public funds in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) during his regime.
Adesina in a tweet on Thursday described Gowon as an honourable man, urging the public not to give in to misinformation.
“Be careful of misinformation! H.E. General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State, is a man of great honour, decency, honesty, amazing simplicity, humility and integrity,” the AfDB boss wrote.
“I know him. A great and admirable elder statesman of Nigeria. His honesty and integrity are impeccable.”
A British Member of Parliament Tom Tugendhat had made the allegation on Monday during a debate at the parliament over the #EndSARS protest against police brutality in Nigeria.
The debate was sequel to a petition signed by over 200,000 people.
Gowon himself has debunked the allegation.
