President Muhammadu Buhari today lamented what he called the “orchestrated attempts to sully the integrity of ministers and other senior government officials, who are being tarred with the brush of corruption without any concrete evidence.”

He was reacting to reports, particularly by online media (News Express not included), that the immediate past Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, who is also Minister of State for Petroleum, is being investigated over crude oil swap deals and gas liftings during his tenure as GMD of the petroleum corporation.

Buhari in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) Femi Adesina, appealed for “decent and civilised comments, particularly when it has to do with the integrity of those who are serving the country.”

“Terrible and unfounded comments about other people’s integrity are not good. We are not going to spare anybody who soils his hands, but people should please wait till such individuals are indicted,” the President said.

Buhari reiterated the administration’s commitment to probity, accountability and integrity, promising that transparency remains a watchword, which would never be trifled with.

•Photo shows President Buhari.