Nigeria Government Clears the Air
The Presidency in
Nigeria has cleared the air over the controversy trailing the treatment of the
Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari.
Spokesman to President
Muhammadu Buhari, Mr Garba Shehu, explained that Mr Kyari did not use the funds
of the Nigeria High Commission in the United Kingdom to pay his medical bills
in the European Nation.
He noted in a statement
he issued on Monday that the allegations contained in a report published by an
online news medium, were totally incorrect, misleading and a total fabrication.
Mr Shehu’s statement
read: “The Nigeria High Commission in London did not at any time ever settle
the medical bills or any other bills for that matter as Abba Kyari personally
took responsibility for paying his own bills. This is by the Chief of Staff’s
choice. He pays for his medicals, his taxi and accommodation in the UK, in
spite of the high office he occupies, even when there is no rule that says he
cannot be catered for by government.
“For the records, Kyari
was rushed out of Nigeria for an emergency medical treatment on the fateful
December 1, 2016. To receive him on arrival, the Wellington Hospital needed to
have cash deposited, or in the absence of this, a letter of guarantee.
“In order to meet this
condition, the Nigeria High Commission in London wrote the Letter of Guarantee
to the hospital for treatment to commence. The role of the High Commission
didn’t involve financial commitments on behalf of Kyari.
“The Letter of
Guarantee from the High Commission was meant to meet the routine requirements
of the Wellington Hospital since the patient in question (Kyari) didn’t possess
the UK National Health Insurance.
“Apart from senior
government officials, other reputable Nigerians are issued with such guarantee
letters to hospitals. A guarantor is not liable unless there is a default, but
this wasn’t the case with Abba Kyari who paid all his medical bills by himself
as he had done on previous occasions.
“Hospital records are
available for verification to show that the Nigeria High Commission in London
didn’t spend a penny on Kyari, as its involvement didn’t go beyond the issuance
of the letter of guarantee to the Wellington Hospital.”
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