Garba Shehu, a media aide to President Muhammadu Buhari, has said that the late Nigerian leader regularly rejected offers of luxury gifts while living up to the public perception he cut for himself as an incorruptible politician.

Mr Shehu, who admitted circulating fake news that rats invaded Mr Buhari’s office to deflect attention from the president’s health in his recently launched book, said this statement on Laolu Akande’s Inside Sources, a show aired on Channels TV on Friday.

He said Mr Buhari rejected an aircraft and a diamond wristwatch as gifts during his time in office.

“When we went to the United Arab Emirates in 2016, and in Abu Dhabi, which is the capital, the emir of Abu Dhabi actually asked the president which aircraft did he want? He offered him an aircraft,” Mr Shehu said.

He added, “The president said, ‘If it is for my country, I will accept.’ But the emir said, ‘No, it’s for you personally, so that you can use it after you leave office.’ ‘I don’t need an aircraft when I leave office. In any case, I can’t maintain it.’ And that ended the story.”

Mr Shehu also claimed Mr Buhari rejected a customised diamond wristwatch gift from a Nigerian designer.

“The president looked at it, and he said, ‘Diamond wristwatch? I can’t wear this. Please tell this young Nigerian that he’s doing well for himself. He’s also a good ambassador of the country. We’ll continue to encourage him; let him please continue to promote the image and the name of this country in his trade. But the wristwatch – take it back to him. I can’t use it,” Mr Shehu said.

Mr Buhari, a one-time military leader, rode to power on anti-corruption rhetoric in 2015. While he was not directly linked to financial impropriety, his government, contrary to the anti-corruption mantra, was rocked by multiple scandals.

His minister of power, Mammam Saleh, and minister of aviation, Hadi Sirika, are being investigated for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Also,  former Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele has forfeited over 720 duplexes traced to him amid investigations into the leadership of the apex bank.

Also, Mr Buhari’s wife, Aisha, was named in two bribery investigations involving her security aide and one of her political allies.

Mr Shehu’s statement comes a few weeks after his book, “According to the President: Lessons from a Presidential Spokesperson’s Experience”, in which he admitted to circulating fake news about rats damaging the office of his principal.