“For the benefit of unwary members of the public who may be deceived by the political innuendoes now being woven into the subsidy probe bribe affair, President Jonathan wishes to affirm that he has absolutely no reason or desire to meddle in the affairs of the House of Representatives and its leadership.

“Neither the President nor anyone acting on his request or order has anything to do with the scandal that has sadly engulfed the House ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy. The attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter is entirely speculative and without factual foundation.

“Against the background of its avowed commitment to the effective prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria, the Presidency notes with satisfaction that given the seriousness of the scandal, the House of Representatives has already recalled its members from recess for a special session to deliberate on it tomorrow.

“When the President received the report of the House of Representatives' ad hoc committee, he made a presidential directive. Has that directive been changed? That directive has not been changed. Both the bribery allegation and the report are before security agencies and they will do a thorough job on both of them.”

– President Goodluck Jonathan said in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Reuben Abati, on Thursday in Abuja.