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From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja
Clerks of several standing committees of the Senate have raised the alarm over alleged monthly extortion by the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Emmanuel Odo.
Many committee clerks told journalists in Abuja that Odo allegedly convened a meeting last month where he directed that N100,000 each be transferred monthly by committee secretaries and assistant clerks, amounting to N200,000 per committee, into a private account belonging to a retired staff of the National Assembly.
When contacted for his reaction, the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Emmanuel Odo, did not deny that funds were being requested but took offence at the anonymity of the complainants.
He responded tersely, “You are free to publish the story on the allegation but names of the accusers must also be revealed in the story.”
The clerks are demanding that the Senate management address the “disturbing and coercive demand.”
One of them, who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, said more than 20 clerks and assistant clerks had already complied by sending money to an account allegedly provided by Odo: “Account No: 2065154519, Bank: UBA,” said to belong to Uzoma Patience Edet, a National Assembly retiree.
She said her committee would not comply with the directive because it does not have such funds to pay into any private account, though the pressure to remit the funds has intensified.
“Pressures are being mounted from the Clerk to the Senate on those of us yet to remit N100,000 into the account because those who have remitted have ‘very juicy MDAs’ under their committees.
“For my own committee and some others, the money is not there to remit into such an ‘unofficial account’ for unofficial spending by the Clerk.”
The clerks said Odo told them the monthly contributions were for “send forth” packages for retiring staff, but they insisted the explanation amounted to an extortion scheme since the funds would never return to them.
They added that after the meeting, a message allegedly sent on behalf of the Clerk of the Senate was posted on the general platform for committee clerks, demanding the contributions and providing payment details. The message read in part:
“Distinguished Committee Clerks, I have been directed to bring to your notice this very important information.
“Distinguished Colleagues, we are all aware some of our senior colleagues are retiring this month of December 2025.
“Our senior colleagues have served for 15yrs, 25yrs and 35yrs in service and it is incumbent on us to at least appreciate them by organizing a farewell party for them… As we plan to celebrate them, we once again seek your financial contributions for the success of this great event coming up on the 14th of December 2025.
“Please kindly send your financial contribution to: Name: Uzoma Patience Edet. Bank: UBA. Account No: 2065154519.”
