[Photos] The cash bundles causing a stir in Nigeria

At a time when Nigeria is pushing for a cashless economy, the last thing they expect to see was so much money, not in a bank but on the table of a State Commissioner in Bauchi state.

The initial pictures that appeared on social media showed bundles of cash arranged on the Commissioners’ table as he seems to be talking to someone. The source of the images are still not known.

Reactions on social media were very harsh even with the main opposition People Democratic Party weighing in at some point. Nigeria’s corruption debacle over the years have made it’s anti-corruption outfit, the Economic and Financial crimes Commission one of the most active institutions in Africa’s most populous country.

CHANGE: How APCNigeria are sharing and looting money in Bauchi State. pic.twitter.com/Xp6BTNNGVp

— PDP Nigeria (PdpNigeria) June 16, 2016

Bauchi State reacts

After the pictures gained massive traction on social media, the State, through the special assistant to the State Governor, issued a press statement to clarify the circumstances around so much money being in a Commissioner’s office.

According to him, the money was meant to be distributed in respect of the Ramadan celebration to mosques to help the less privileged people to break that fast, parts of the statement read as follows:

‘‘This period of Ramadan teaches us to extend love to the poor, less privileged and the non buoyant. In line with this, and as has always been done, the Bauchi State Government releases funds to mosques in Bauchi state for the provision of iftar to faithfuls. These funds are disbursed through the Office of the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, to assist faithfuls who are not buoyant enough to afford iftar.’‘

The statement however adds that, the state explained however that the State Governor understood the ‘‘insensitivity of the image, surfacing at a time like this when we as a Government are working hard to achieve a corruption-free and transparent administration.’‘

Dear PdpNigeria, this caption is totally wrong. APCNigeria https://t.co/CpGR45WBEa pic.twitter.com/DRAdJJhXI8

— Bauchi State (@BauchiState) June 16, 2016