Senators, Reps fight dirty over $10 million bribe to reject PIB’s 5% for host communities



Specifically, some lawmakers are seething over claims that Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala received $2 million each in cash bribes to pass the historic law.

OYINDAMOLA OLUBAJO AND HILLARY ESSIEN


Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Minister of State Petroleum Timipre Sylva and Speaker, House of Reps Femi Gbajabiamila
Nigerian lawmakers are bracing for a showdown with their principal officers after uncovering details of how they were grossly shortchanged in the distribution of a multimillion-dollar bribe for the passage of the new petroleum industry law, Peoples Gazette can report.

Five lawmakers, including three senators and two House members, corroborated to The Gazette following an initial tip-off that least $10 million was paid in cash to members of the National Assembly to help expedite passage of the bill despite widespread opposition to a clause that granted only three per cent of upstream oil companies’ operating income to host communities.

Specifically, the lawmakers are seething over what one of them described to The Gazette as “greedy misconduct” of Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala, who were accused of taking $2 million each in cash bribes to ram the bill through despite protests from host communities.

A Nigerian billionaire of far-reaching acclaim who has perhaps the largest contemporary stake in the oil and gas industry was said to have provided $2 million alone, while other firms and individuals in the oil and gas industry provided the remaining $8 million. The Gazette could not publicly identify the billionaire because our reporters have yet to obtain direct evidence linking him to the bribery.

“The Senate President received $2 million and the Speaker received $2 million,” a senator told The Gazette under anonymity to avoid charges of breach of privilege. “Their greedy misconduct was recently exposed to us and we will seriously take up the matter when we resume from the annual recess next month.”

“From what I can volunteer, many senators were given $20,000 before and after the PIB was passed, depending on their availability,” the senator said.

Another lawmaker furious about the affair admitted to The Gazette that he received $5,000, but said he didn’t know it was part of a multimillion-dollar payout to lawmakers to pass the bill.

“They gave me $5,000 and said it was for us to buy biscuits for our children for labouring day and night to get the bill to the stage of passage,” the lawmaker said under anonymity. “To God, I did not know that it was about $10 million that they received and some crooks calling themselves leaders got $2 million each for themselves.”

“We will protest the matter after our break because some people have to realise that they don’t have two heads and we have to fight for our rights and privileges as members of the National Assembly,” the lawmaker added. “Each one of us is representing a constituency and that makes us all equal because no one at the National Assembly is representing more than one constituency.”

Spokespeople for Messrs Lawan and Gbajabiamila did not return The Gazette’s requests for comments about the alleged bribery and the brewing disquiet over it.


$10 million largesse

Host communities, largely of the oil-rich Niger-Delta region, had complained that three per cent is insufficient against decades of environmental degradation and neglect inflicted on traditional settlers. The communities said they would accept at least 10 per cent, even though the administration initially proposed five per cent.

But the state-run NNPC and other operators dug their heels in, saying any sharing arrangement that allows more than three per cent to host communities will cut too deep into their revenue margins and alienate potential investors in the country’s wobbling oil sector.

But after the stalemate augured a string of rowdy and inconclusive sessions at the parliament, lawmakers last month finally passed the Petroleum Industry Bill that sought to unbundle the sector and restructure the NNPC as a commercial enterprise rather than a federal charter. President Muhammadu Buhari signed the bill into law this week despite the controversies surrounding the meagre three per cent equity stake for host communities.

The Gazette has now learnt that lawmakers accepted cash inducements to pass the bill, which was proposed by Mr Buhari-led executive cabinet. Lawmakers said the cash logistics was coordinated by state petroleum minister Timipre Sylva and Senator Albert Akpan (PDP-Akwa Ibom).

A senator told The Gazette that Mr Akpan sent one of his aides to deliver $20,000 to him at his office.

“He (Mr Akpan) sent a woman from his office to give me $20,000,” the senator said. “They said the money came from people who have investments in the oil and gas and they wanted to appreciate us for our dedication in seeing the bill through after so many years of failed efforts.”


Lopsided formula

Messrs Sylva and Akpan did not return requests seeking comments from The Gazette.

Another lawmaker who confirmed knowledge of the bribery to The Gazette said it was a serious scandal waiting to explode because a lawmaker had already mentioned the matter in the House WhatsApp group weeks ago.

“A lawmaker protested the sharing formula but no one responded or engaged him in the House WhatsApp group,” the lawmaker said. “So I fear that many colleagues are angry about the whole thing.”

A lawmaker said the disquiet could easily have been avoided had the leaders properly conducted themselves in handling the largesse.

“It is common across the world for lawmakers to be offered gratification,” the lawmaker said. “But it has to be equitably distributed so that no one feels cheated or left out.”

Nigerian lawmakers have for years faced allegations of taking bribes to pass bills or carry out general oversight activities. In the mid-2000s, bags full of cash were displayed on the floor of the parliament, allegedly offered by elements close to former President Olusegun Obasanjo to push the so-called third-term agenda. Mr Obasanjo denied the allegations.

https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-senators-reps-fight-dirty-over-10-million-bribe-to-reject-pibs-5-for-host-communities/


Lalasticlala

No surprise here....
That lawmaker that got $5000 said to buy biscuits for our children

The real looser remain ordinary Nigerians not the shortchanged lawmakers

They are only angry because they feel cheated on,not because they love their constituents..

Our leaders are cursed.

Niger delta people don suffe shaaaa.
If "marginalized" was a tribe or region it would be niger delta.



Pls check this out.

https://www.nairaland.com/6706678/inside-fashion-entrepreneur-reni-folawiyos

dre11:

Senators, Reps fight dirty over $10 million bribe to reject PIB’s 5% for host communities



Specifically, some lawmakers are seething over claims that Senate President Ahmad Lawan and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamiala received $2 million each in cash bribes to pass the historic law.




https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-senators-reps-fight-dirty-over-10-million-bribe-to-reject-pibs-5-for-host-communities/


Lalasticlala

Obviously the dishonourable thieves are at it again at the expense of the represented!!

2023 is almost here....vote for the right people.

Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for 2023

Bastards! As if they are different.These idiots are shouting now because they have been short changed.
No integrity, no genuine intentions for their constituencies but only inordinate egocentric desires.

No way,N'delta are only obsessed with IPOB

And Femi Adesina referring to Mahummadu Buhari as Mr finisher. Is this how he got the name. There is God who will pay these crooks in their own coin. They keep telling us the nation is broke.

God will inflict our leaders and their children with deadly incurable diseases

Na wahoo

BigSarah:
No surprise here....
That lawmaker that got $5000 said to buy biscuits for our children

The real looser remain ordinary Nigerians not the shortchanged lawmakers

You go fear biscuits na.

Sad, sad country I tell ya.

What more can they do other than fight for their selfish interest..

Leaders of doom!

BigSarah:
No surprise here....
That lawmaker that got $5000 said to buy biscuits for our children

The real looser remain ordinary Nigerians not the shortchanged lawmakers

Not that he will return the 5k dollars o.. Him go still use an buy biscuits for his family..

Thieves!

Ikpeyi:
2023 is almost here....vote for the right people.

Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba for 2023

Oga, how much where you paid for this cheap campaign?

BigSarah:
No surprise here....
That lawmaker that got $5000 said to buy biscuits for our children

The real looser remain ordinary Nigerians not the shortchanged lawmakers

Point of correction Mr man, the real loosers are the Ijaws and the we niger delta.

They were given 3% while the North took 30% meanwhile they told Igbos want their oil.

Nigerians are not ready yet to liberate themselves from these political criminals parading as leaders.

http://saharareporters.com/2021/08/20/petroleum-bill-shameless-nigerian-lawmakers-battle-senate-president-lawan-house-speaker


cc lalasticlala

They have not started. The day SS will grow some sense, that's the day this Fulani theft and tyranny will end. Until then, they should keep watching as northern "elites" flaunt their oyel money.