Nigerian lawmaker, Senator Ajibola Basiru, had rubbished allegations that members of the Senate received N20m COVID-19 palliative from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Recall that the Executive Director of Projects at the NDDC, Cairo Ojougboh, in an interview with the Vanguard, had alleged that each senator got N20 million, while the House of Representatives members got N15 million each from the NDDC COVID-19 relief fund.
Denying Mr Ojougboh’s claim on Tuesday, the Senate spokesperson, Dr Ajibola Basiru, challenged the NDDC executive-director to publicly provide evidence of his claim and “list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the alleged sum”.
Mr Bashiru’s statement read: “The Senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC who alleged that NASS members received varying sums of money as COVID – 19 palliative.
“The Senate hereby disclaims the allegation in its entirety. The Senate categorically denies that any Senator collected the sum of N20 million or any sum whatsoever from NDDC as COVID relief fund of for any purpose whatsoever.
“The Senate challenges Dr Ojougboh to publicly provide evidence of his claim and list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the alleged sum.
“Failure to provide evidence of his claim, the Senate hereby demands an immediate retraction and a public apology from Dr Cairo Ojougboh.”