A prominent figure within the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tein Jack-Rich, has vehemently refuted allegations of bribery for a ministerial appointment, labeling them as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by his detractors.
Jack-Rich, who vied for the presidency in the 2023 elections under the APC, expressed his condemnation towards those who implicated him in this alleged misconduct, asserting that their intentions were solely to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.
The accusations stemmed from a tweet by Jackson Ude, a former aide to the ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan. Ude claimed that Jack-Rich had bribed Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a staggering sum of N500 million in exchange for a ministerial position.
In response, the APC Chieftain released a statement dismissing the claims as unfounded and fabricated, viewing the report connected to a former presidential aide as both distasteful and lacking in verifiable evidence.
Expressing his disbelief, Jack-Rich questioned the audacity of individuals who would seek to smear his name for their own political gain, highlighting the damage such actions can inflict on a person’s reputation.
He stated, “It has come to my attention, as well as that of my family, that there have been provocative, malicious, preposterous, unwarranted, distasteful, and unsubstantiated publications by politically sponsored agents over the past few days.”
He continued, “These individuals have made several baseless allegations against myself and my family, with the sole intention of defaming me.”
The APC Chieftain went on to express his disappointment at the linked report, asserting that its purpose was to garner cheap political relevance within the emerging political landscape.
“On behalf of my family, I would like to unequivocally state that all of these allegations are not only unfounded and childish but also reflect the nature and character of the individuals behind them, who are notorious for their political subterfuge and desperation for political relevance,” Jack-Rich added.
It is noteworthy that Jack-Rich, an oil magnate, contested the presidential primaries within the APC but ultimately lost to the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
