A senator representing Osun Central, Ajibola Basiru, who also is the spokesman of the senate, says no senator received the sum of N20 million as COVID-19 palliative.
Basiru was responding to the allegation by the executive director of projects for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Cairo Ojougboh, alleging that senators collected N20 million each and House of Reps members got N15 million as COVID-19 palliative.
Ojougboh said in the allegation: “In the National Assembly, each of the senators got N20 million, while the House of Representatives members got N15 million for COVID-19 from the National Assembly.”
But Basiru said Ojougboh lied in his claim, and urged him to provide the evidence of such largesse.
“The senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC who alleged that National Assembly members received varying sums of money as COVID – 19 palliative. The senate hereby disclaims the allegation in its entirety,” he said.
“The Senate categorically denies that any Senator collected the sum of N20 million or any sum whatsoever from NDDC as COVID-19 relief fund 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 immediate retraction and public apology from Dr Cairo Ojougboh.”
