Presidency Denies Reports Of Communications Minister, Isa Pantami Being On US Watchlist Over Links To Al Qaeda, Boko Haram
Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, has on Monday denied reports that United States government has placed Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami on terror watchlist.
Reports emerged on Sunday that Pantami had been placed on the list over alleged ties with late Boko Haram leader and global terror group, Al Qaeda.
The report claimed that the minister was said to be a close confidant of late Mohammed Yusuf, the late leader of Boko Haram.
It also alleged that Pantami had ties with Abu Quatada al Falasimi and other Al Qaeda leaders whom he revered and spoke highly of.
The report stated that before his appointment as a minister, Ibrahim was a known Islamic preacher and held what was termed ‘dangerous views’ against US government with allegiance to Al Qaeda.
Reacting to the report, Bashir in a tweet described the report as ‘fake news’, declaring that the Minister has never been on any US watchlist.
He wrote;
You have just endorsed a fake report without verifying. For your information @DrIsaPantamihas never been on any US watchlist.
You have just endorsed a fake report without verifying. As a media outlet @NewsWireNGR you know exactly how to verify such reports, but no, you are here pushing a false and dangerous narrative to your thousands of followers. FYI @DrIsaPantami has never been on any US watchlist. https://t.co/p4vR5yUGQ9
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) April 12, 2021
As at the time of filing this report, Isa Pantami was yet to react to the critical allegations.
