Presidency officials deny rumours President Buhari has passed away in London

PRESIDENCY officials have denied recent stories that President Muhammadu Buhari has passed on in London describing them as rumours as baseless rumours being peddled by political detractors to cause panic across the nation.

Over the weekend, rumours circulated on social media that President Buhari passed away in the UK where he is currently undergoing medical treatment. Earlier this month, President Buhari embarked upon indefinite leave to the UK for treatment on an undisclosed but serious ailment that kept him out of the country for 50 days earlier this year.

Mallam Garba Shehu, President Buhari's special assistant, said there was no truth in the rumours making the rounds. He cleared the air in a series of tweets he posted on his Twitter handle, @GarShehu, amidst unconfirmed reports on social media platforms and some online new sites on the president’s health.

In his tweets, Mallam Shehu urged Nigerians to discard the reports which he said were being peddled by vested interests in order to cause panic. He said there was no cause for apprehension because nothing unpleasant had happened to the President.

Mallam Shehu said: “Baseless rumours are trending again that an unpleasant thing has happened to our beloved president, Muhammadu Buhari. If you have received this information on WhatsApp or Facebook, disregard it because it is plain lies spread by vested interests to create panic

“Nothing unpleasant has happened to the president. No cause for apprehension and thanks for the many calls.”

Between January 19 and March 9, President Buhari was resident at Abuja House in London, the official residence of the Nigerian high commissioner to the UK. He returned for a follow-up trip on May 8, handing over the control of the country to vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo, who has been acting on his behalf.