Nigerian Senate
The Nigerian Senate has dismissed an allegation by former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Attahiru Jega that lawmakers are notorious for collecting bribe.
Jega had, on Monday, accused federal lawmakers of taking bribes at will under the pretence of committee work and oversight functions.
He made this known while delivering a lecture titled, “Peace building and good governance for sustainable development in Nigeria.”
“Members of the National Assembly engage in bribe taking when they pursue committee works and oversight and I wonder what is happening with intelligence and investigative responsibilities of security agencies in policing our National Assembly,” he said.
But the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Aliyu Sabi-Abdullahi, said it was not a strange allegation.
“Jega can even change our names to anything he wants. Jega is entitled to his opinion. Whatever he says does not change the facts on ground. I can’t respond to that. If he likes, let him change our names to anything that suits him,” he said.
“This is the beauty of democracy. People can say whatever they want. It is their right to do so. I will not respond to what he has said.”
But the House of Representatives did not hesitate to respond.
Spokesman of the green chamber Abdulrasak Namdas challenged Jega to reveal the identities of corrupt lawmakers.
“He should supply the names of those who demanded bribes or took bribes from the MDAs. It is the best way to help the government’s anti-corruption crusade. Mere allegations without proof will not help the nation,” he said.
“Perhaps, we should also remind Jega that many Nigerians have accused INEC members of staff of taking bribes to manipulate Election outcome or frustrate the entire process.
“On these grounds, do we now do a blanket condemnation of INEC workers and say they are bribe takers? More than 200 INEC officials are facing investigation as we speak.”