Presidency: Buhari’s aide, Sarki Abba, did not test positive for coronavirus

The Presidency has debunked reports that an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, Sarki Abba, contracted COVID-19.

Okay.ng understands that Abba is Buhari’s senior special assistant on social affairs and domestic matters.

Garba Shehu, spokesman to the president, in a statement sent to Okay.ng on Wednesday morning, said the story that Abba tested positive for coronavirus is “fake news”.

According to Shehu, all aides of the president regularly undergo the COVID-19 test and Abba had always tested negative.

The statement read, “The Presidency wishes to advise Nigerians to ignore determined agents of fake news bent on spreading false stories to the public.

“We react to the utter falsehood and disgraceful lies, a report by so-called digital newspaper which, Wednesday, claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide, Sarki Abba is COVID-19 positive.

“This report is sheer fabrication and brazen effort by the online news medium to mislead the public.

“Upon the directive of doctors and scientists and supervision of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, all staff working for and around the President, are routinely and rigorously checked for the virus. The Senior Special Assistant, Social Affairs and Domestic Matters, Sarki Abba, always tested negative.

“The general public is hereby advised to ignore such stories that are intended to mislead the people and create unnecessary anxiety about the safety of the President.”