N22.7 trillion Ways and Means: Reps Deny Collecting $15m from Executive

N22.7 trillion Ways and Means: Reps Deny Collecting $15m from Executive

The House of Representatives had denied collecting a bribe of 15 million dollars from the Executive arm of government to approve its latest request on the humongous debt it is owing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Executive is said to be owing the apex bank over 22 trillion naira in Ways and Means and the House was recently convinced to restructure the loan.

The House was therefore accused of being bribed by the Executive to restructure it.

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A statement by House spokesman, Rep Benjamin Kalu (APC Abia), however denied the allegations, saying the House took the decision in the best interest of the country.

He reiterated that House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is a man of integrity who has the interest of the country at heart and would not engage in such blatant corruption.

The statement read in full:

“The attention of the House of Representatives and the leadership of the house has been drawn to a malicious media report alleging that the sum of fifteen million dollars was received from the executive arm to approve the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means advances taken from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The allegations are not only false, but also baseless and unfounded.

Usually, the House would have refrained from dignifying such a report with a response, having faith that all well-intentioned Nigerians would outrightly dismiss it. However, it has become imperative to address the report and the unfounded claims made therein for the benefit of all Nigerians.

As elected representatives, our decisions and actions are taken in the public interest. It should be recalled that the house had temporarily deferred the approval of the executive’s request following recommendations of the relevant committees of the House, which called for further engagement with the executive in order to facilitate a comprehensive and meticulous analysis and deliberation on public interventions the executive earmarked the said request for.

We implore the media to exercise restraint and desist from disseminating unfounded allegations that have the potential to tarnish the reputation of public institutions and individuals, particularly during this critical period when lawmakers are deeply engrossed in the political competition for the leadership positions in the impending 10th National Assembly.

The insinuations and attacks against the person of the Speaker goes to naught as he remains the most forthright, upstanding, and most loved Speaker in our parliamentary history. Any attempt by one or two to plant malicious stories for the unsuspecting public is in futility.”