Former President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has responded to recent reports of plans by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to subpoena him and his wife’s bank records in the United States of America, USA.
In a statement on Tuesday night, by his Spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan described the action as an exercise in futility, saying that, he has no accounts or property outside Nigeria.
Recent International Media reports had suggested the Nigerian government had subpoenaed bank records for Jonathan and his wife, Dame Patience, in the United States of America.
Jonathan encouraged the US authorities to cooperate fully with the Nigerian government, on its demands.
Part of the statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to International Media reports, to the effect that the Federal Government of Nigeria has subpoenaed bank records for former President Goodluck Jonathan, and his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan, in the United States of America.
“We aver that the Federal Government of Nigeria did not contact Dr. Jonathan or his wife before issuing these subpoenas. If they had, we would have advised them of the fact that you cannot subpoena what does not exist.
“We also remind the public that on March 5, 2014, during the swearing-in of new Ministers, then President Jonathan said: “I am loyal to Nigeria’s economy. I do not have accounts or property abroad”.
“We are confident in stating that between that time and now, nothing has changed with regards to Dr. Goodluck Jonathan. He has no accounts in the United States of America, and encourages US authorities to cooperate fully with the Federal Government of Nigeria’s subpoena.
“Finally, we state that the signing of the P&ID contracts preceded the Jonathan administration, and that, that government gave appropriate counsel to the incoming government in the handover notes of 2015, which advice if carried out, would have prevented the current unfortunate circumstances.”