Usman Isah Auta, father of the three-year-old boy whose two eyes were allegedly plucked by unknown ritualists in Zaria, Kaduna State, has denied receiving $30,000 from the State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai.

Reports had said that the governor sent N150,000 and an additional sum of $30,000 to the father of Sadiq Usman Isa, while also promising that the boy’s education up to university level would be taken care by the Kaduna State Government.

However, speaking with newsmen this morning at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Shika, Zaria, where the boy is currently receiving treatment, Mr. Auta vehemently denyied receiving $30,000. He said what Bashir Ibrahim Dabo, Special Assistant to Governor El-Rufai, who came on behalf of the governor to the hospital “gave me in addition to the N150,000 cash, was $100 cash, which I changed to N29,500. So I am surprise to hear that, we received $30,000 which is not true.”

Continuing, Mr. Auta said: “My son has been operated upon, even though he has lost his vision completely, many sympathiser still troop in to offer help for treatment anywhere in the world which is very good and encouraging.

“My family and I are most grateful to government and everybody who supported us in the trying time and we are still soliciting for God’s miracle to restore my son's vision and to expose the perpetrators.”

Dabo when contacted said: “It is just N150,000 with a hundred us dollar and we are working toward sending him to India inshaalahu.”

•Photo shows Governor El-Rufai.