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.
*House of Representatives members in session
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.”

However, there was a dramatic twist when Madaki was given an opportunity to speak on the matter.

The lawmaker now told the House that he too “heard” and not that he had any concrete proof.

He said what transpired was that the national daily called him to find out whether members took $50,000 bribe as alleged.

Madaki said he replied that he told the newspaper he was not aware of $50,000 bribe but “I heard that $20,000 was given to members.”

Members reacted with a thunderous laughter after Madaki gave the impression that he too could not substantiate the allegation.

There was also no mention of the source of the alleged bribe.

Unionised: chewing on that...

otijah: Ok

ednut1: corruption

Joshuadon: GOD DELIVER DIS COUNTRY.................................

sirjohnson: Ghen ghen...The fowl's yansh is being opened

Samiceman: Ye

eleojo23: Bad

igbsam: Unending drama here and there always involving the pdp. Where is our $20b....is this part of what it was stolen for ?

HopeAlive14: Comedy of absurd and shame.

SimonAndal:
Nothing new. Next!

9jahubcom: kk

Tunguy01: Thief carry am , thief collect am , thief dey probe am , tell me hw we wan take knw d truth , indeed der was a country

Kunlenoni: hmmmm,whats my biz?