For
the second time this week, pandemonium reigned in the House of
Representatives, yesterday, following allegations of a $50,000 bribe to
members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to suppress a house
inquest into the alleged $9.3 million cash seized by the South African
Government.
The House went into a near riot following the
admission by a member of the House, Rep. Ali Madaki, APC, Kano to the
leakage of the story of the alleged bribe to the PDP members. Madaki,
however, confessed that the bribe amount was $20,000.00 and not the
$50,000 as reported by a national newspaper, yesterday.
The
PDP deputy leader in the House, Rep. Leo Ogor, however, yesterday,
described the allegation as an embarrassment, unparliamentary and an act
of blackmail.
The House nevertheless directed its committee to investigate the fresh scam allegation and report within two weeks.
The controversy
Controversy
started at the resumed plenary of the House, yesterday, when chairman
of the Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP,
Taraba), raised a point of order bordering on the breach of his
privileges.
Citing Order 8, Rule 20 of the House Rules, the
Taraba lawmaker complained that he was embarrassed by stories in some
national dailies on the walk-out by the All Progressives Congress, APC,
members at the previous day’s sitting and the insinuation that PDP
members in the House were given $50,000 each to stall debate on the
motion to investigate the $9.3 million botched arms deal in South
Africa.
Sam-Tsokwa said: “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.”
Although,
Sam-Tsokwa did not mention anybody’s name, he alleged that the story was
the handiwork of a member of the House, adding that the news story
breached his privilege as a member of the House.
Rationalising
the ruling of the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha the previous day, which
led to the disagreement on the floor, he explained that: “we are all
aware that infrastructure motion 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.”
He submitted that the protest
and subsequent walk-out on the House by APC lawmakers was uncalled for
and condemnable and consequently prayed the House to mandate the Ethics
and Privileges Committee to investigate Madaki’s allegations.
Ruling
on the matter, the Deputy Speaker referred the matter to the committee
but cautioned his colleagues that the House “is at trying times” and
“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 went extra mile to take the motion, there was
still a walk-out,” he said.
Upon the Deputy Speaker’s ruling,
Madaki stood up on a point of order to speak. But his effort was
igreeted with jeers from some members which created another pandemonium
on the floor. Although, Madaki was consistently shouted down by his
colleagues, the minority whip, Samson Osagie (APC, Edo) intervened and
pleaded that Madaki be allowed to speak.
Madaki’s confession
To
the consternation of members, Madaki confessed that he was the person
that broke the bribery allegations to the press. He confirmed that he
told a journalist that he had it on good authority “that PDP members
were given $20,000 each.”
He maintained that what he told the
journalist over the telephone about the bribe was that he was aware that
each of the PDP members was bribed $20,000 but not $50,000 as was
reported.
Following Madaki’s confession, the House was again
enveloped in a state of rowdiness for about 10 minutes before order was
eventually restored, necessitating the Deputy Speaker to refer the
matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation.
When
contacted on the issue, Deputy Leader, Rep Ogor said: “The whole
episode is embarrassing and disgusting. How can somebody fabricate such
lies?
“We voted on the matter and the nays carried the day and
you still staged a walk-out to protest that you were defeated,” Ogor
wondered.
“I found that publication embarrassing and as far as I
am concerned it is pure blackmail. It is totally unacceptable and
unparliamentary.
“People should know that before you go to the
press and make such an allegation you must have your facts as nothing of
that nature even happened and I challenge the lawmaker to come up with
his facts.
“For the fact that APC was defeated was not enough
reason for them to walk out and to add insult to it they brought the
allegation that the same PDP members collected $50,000.”
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