$9.3m Arms Deal: House to Probe Bribery Allegation Against Lawmakers

 N’Assembly  Complex

By Muhammad Bello in Abuja  


The rancour among the House of Representatives members refused to abate yesterday over the allegation of a $50,000 bribe alleged to have been given to each lawmaker of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the executive to quash any debate on the $9.3 million cash-for-arms deal in South Africa.

The exchange of brickbats, which nearly degenerated into a rowdy session, started when Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP, Taraba) raised the matter under Order 8, Rule 20 of the House.

But Hon. Ali Madaki (Kano, APC), who owned up to being the person who told a journalist over the telephone about the bribe, stood by his word but amended the allegation by saying that he was aware that each PDP member got  $20,000 instead of  $50,000 as widely reported yesterday.

Continuing, Sam-Tsokwa complained that he woke up yesterday to see newspapers awash with stories of the walkout by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) over the debate on the arms deal and allegations that PDP members were given $50,000 each.

“As the House Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, this issue is not to my knowledge. No money was received by any member of my party or myself,” Sam-Tsokwa said.

Expressing sadness that the allegation breached his privilege as a member of the House, the legislator attributed its peddling to a fellow member, who he did not name, adding: “We are all aware that infrastructure motions can be raised, seconded and voted upon. This is not the first time issues like this have been brought to the floor of the House and rejected.”

Condemning the walkout, Sam-Tsokwa urged the House to probe the allegation by referring the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha (PDD, Imo), who was presiding, acquiesced to his prayer, stating further that the House “is in trying times”.

“We should be careful as circumstances like this could lead to casualties. It is not my wish that such should happen. It is regrettable that despite the fact that I bent over to take the motion, there was still a walkout,” he said.

At this point, Madaki raised a point of order, but was shouted down by his colleagues.
Then, Hon. Samson Osagie (Edo, APC) intervened and requested that Madaki be allowed to speak. Ihedioha agreed and yielded the floor to him.

When he stood up, Madaki said the member that Sam-Tsokwa was referring to was him. He admitted telling a journalist that he had heard it on good authority “that PDP members were given $20,000 each”.
This remark caused bedlam in the green chamber until Ihedioha was able to restore calm and ruled that the matter be investigated by the Ethics and Privileges Committee. The committee was mandated to report back to the House in two weeks.