The Presidency has reacted with dismay to an allegation published by a national daily that Chief of Staff to the President, Malam ABBA KYARI, collected 29 million Naira bribe for the award of a contract for the supply of 15 Hilux vehicles.

Reacting to the allegation in a statement, presidential spokesman, Malam GARBA SHEHU, described the allegation as offensive, saying KYARI never had any private meeting with those making the allegation.

SHEHU said the allegation appeared to be coming from certain persons whose interest was to blackmail the administration of President MUHAMMADU BUHARI as 2019 draws near.

SHEHU also described the allegation as a fiction, saying the contract did not exist in 2016/2017 budgets.

In his own reaction, KYARI stated there was no iota of truth in the story.