The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has dismissed allegations that senators were paid $15,000 bribe each to approve the state of emergency declaration in Rivers state.
President Bola Tinubu had, on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers state, citing the prolonged political crisis and vandalisation of oil installations.
The Rivers state governor, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state house of assembly were suspended from office for six months, followed the imposition of the emergency rule in the state.
The President appointed Ibok-Ete Ibas, a retired vice-admiral, as the sole administrator of the state.
The Senate and the House of Representatives, on Thursday, approved Tinubu’s request for the emergency rule amid raging controversy over the constitutionally of the action.
Reports alleged that 45 senators were offered $5,000 each on Tuesday night, while another 42 received $10,000 each on Wednesday night, ahead of the National Assembly’s approval of the emergency rule.
However, Akpabio, in a statement issued on Saturday by his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, said the allegation is an attempt to blackmail the lawmakers.
Akpabio said he hosted senators at his guest house for an Iftar meal but insisted that no money was shared.
The statement reads: “It is true that I confirmed the Iftar meeting and further asserted that the Distinguished Senate President has always hosted his colleagues of both religious faiths in every season of spiritual rebirth.
“There has never existed any reason to share any money in such a solemn meeting, and no money in any currency was shared.
“I have vehemently denied this spurious rumour of sharing any money. The rumour in itself is peddled by the merchants of blackmail enterprise to add flavour to their subsisting hate and malice campaign.”
