Gowon Reacts After UK Lawmaker Accused Him Of Looting ‘Half Of CBN’

Former Nigeria’s head of state, General Yakubu Gowon, has reacted to an allegation against him by a British lawmaker of stealing have of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) when he left Nigeria and moved to United Kingdom in 1975.

Gowon was accused by a British Parliament member, Tom Tugendhat, who made the allegation during a debate to sanction Nigerian government officials following the way they handled the #EndSARS protests.

Speaking on corruption, the lawmaker used Gowon as a reference stating that many Nigerian leaders has stolen what was meant for the country.

Reacting over the allegation, Gowon, however, described the British lawmaker’s allegation as “rubbish”, according to a report by BBC News Pidgin.

The former head of state said he served Nigeria diligently and the record is there for everyone to see.

He added that he did not know who sponsored the lawmaker to make such allegation against him.

The former Nigerian leader added that he would not want to speak further on the issue as those who know him well understand that the allegation is not true.

Gowon ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1975. During his regime, about 3 million people who are mostly civilians were killed during a Nigerian civil war.

He was overthrown while away at Kampala, Uganda attending a summit of the Organisation of African Unity. It was from there he moved to England to become a student at Warwick University where he studied Political science and International relations.

Meanwhile, in the same development, Akinwumi Adesina, President of African Bank Development (AfDB) has dismissed the allegation leveled against General Gowon as misinformation.

Professor Adesina, in a Twitter post said it’s misinformation to say Gowon stole money during his reign.

He said; “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.

“I know him. A great and admirable elder statesman of Nigeria. His honesty and integrity are impeccable.”

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. I know him. A great and admirable elder statesman of Nigeria. His honesty and integrity are impeccable. pic.twitter.com/YznYN873qH

— Akinwumi A. Adesina (@akin_adesina) November 26, 2020