Ali Modu Sheriff not running from Covid-19 test, report malicious — Aide

Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff on Sunday, described as malicious, reports that he was running away from being tested for Covid-19 after allegedly coming in contact with two cases who have died of the disease.

A statement issued by Kola Adam, Special Adviser on media to the former governor of Borno state, said that the report was fabricated.

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According to the statement, the reports had alleged that Sheriff, during the burial of his father, came in contact with Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Elkanemi and Mohammed Goni both of who have now died of the virus.

The report also alleged that the former PDP Chieftain tricked health workers in the state and fled to Abuja to avoid being tested, the statement further said.

However, the statement stressed that the report was false, adding that the Borno State Covid-19 Committee had also refuted the claims by the online media.

“Our attention has been drawn to a false publication that former Governor of Borno State, Ali Modu Sheriff, tricked health officials, flees to Abuja to avoid COVID-19 test Despite Close Contact With Dead Victims.

“The above is false information prepared with malicious intention and political gimmicks.

“The late Shehu of Bama did not have contact with Sheriff for the past one year and was not present at the burial of Sen. Sheriff’s Father, let alone attending the funeral prayers.

There was no place where Sheriff shook hands with anybody during the burial of his late Father and so could not have come in contact with late Goni during the funeral procession.

“For the record, Sheriff and his family were all tested negative in Abuja, before proceeding to Maiduguri.

“Since the discovery of the virus in Nigeria, Sheriff had confined himself to social distancing even before the order by the Federal Government.

“It is unfortunate that naïve minded politicians instead of praying for protection, started to make mischief out of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” the statement said.

According to the SA Media, investigations were already ongoing to ascertain the source of the malicious story.

He, therefore, advised the general public to disregard the ‘fabricated’ story by mischief-makers.