A former presidential media aide, Reuben Abati, has hit back at Lere Olayinka, a media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Olayinka, appearing on the Arise News’ breakfast program, ‘The Morning Show,’ on Friday, made several allegations.

One of his claims was that Abati once requested money from Wike.

“I have never approached Minister Nyesom Wike to beg for money – that is a lie.

“If anyone – including an ex-partner – went to him under false pretenses to solicit funds in my name, I place a clear disclaimer.

“Such actions were not authorized by me, and Minister Wike reserves every right to call it out as a fraud,” Abati said in a statement on social media on Saturday.

Addressing another allegation, Abati insisted that he was never asked by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to return any money.

Abati claimed that the EFCC, under former chairman Ibrahim Magu, apologized to him over the issue.