Senate President Godswill Akpabio has denied allegations that senators received bribes to approve the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said the claim that lawmakers were bribed was orchestrated by people intending to blackmail them.
The statement was in response to a Sahara Reporters exclusive, which alleged that 45 senators were offered $5,000 each on Tuesday night, and 42 were given $10,000 each on Wednesday, the day before the National Assembly voted on the emergency rule proclamation.
According to the report, the funds were provided by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to the Senate President to rally senators in support of President Tinubu's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers. The money was reportedly distributed when senators gathered for Iftar at Akpabio's guest house in Abuja.
Two senators, Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central) and Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), were named as key figures involved in organizing the payouts. While Umeh has denied the allegation, Imasuen has yet to comment. Wike has also neither confirmed nor denied the report.
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