The Presidency has refuted claims that Muhammed Babangida, son of former military Head of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB), rejected his recent appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture.
The controversy emerged after a letter shared by Dele Momodu on Monday suggested that Muhammed had declined the appointment. However, presidential media aide Olusegun Dada clarified the situation in a statement posted on X.
"Muhammed Babangida has officially accepted his appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), expressing deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the trust reposed in him," Dada stated.
According to the presidential aide, Babangida dismissed the reports of rejection as "false and malicious" and described such claims as "a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and tarnish the image of the Tinubu administration."
"We wish to clarify that Muhammed gratefully accepts the appointment as Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture, as announced by the federal government, and extends his sincere appreciation to President Tinubu for the trust and confidence bestowed upon him," the statement further read.
Conflicting Reports
The controversy began when Dele Momodu, publisher of Ovation Magazine and recent defector to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), shared a letter allegedly authored by Muhammed Babangida.
The purported letter, dated July 21, 2025, stated that Muhammed was declining the appointment due to "personal and professional considerations" that would not allow him to serve with the required focus and commitment.
Momodu had commented on the alleged rejection, writing on Instagram: "Well done, Muhammed, for rejecting a Greek gift."
The Presidency has now assured the public that those behind what they termed as "fake reports" would be identified and held accountable, emphasizing their commitment to "transparency, accountability, and fostering unity within our nation."
"We also want to assure the public that those spreading these falsehoods will be thoroughly investigated and brought to justice," the statement added.
Muhammed Babangida's appointment was among several strategic appointments recently approved by President Tinubu to strengthen leadership across key government institutions.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticized President Tinubu, alleging that the appointments were an attempt to "buy Northern Nigeria" ahead of the 2027 general election.
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