Follow Us on Google
Fred Itua, Abuja
The senate has challenged Prof. Attahiru Jega to reveal the identity of lawmakers asking for bribes or shut up.
The former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had accused lawmakers, especially chairmen of the various standing committees of asking for bribes from heads of government agencies, when he delivered the Democracy Day lecture on Tuesday, in Abuja.
Addressing the issue on the floor of the Senate, Bukola Saraki called on his colleagues to ignore the former electoral umpire, since he has not revealed the identity of lawmakers allegedly asking for bribes.
“I was at the programme; myself and the Speaker were highly embarrassed by this kind of comment. All of us are committed to the fight against corruption. But I believe it doesn’t help the fight against corruption. It is a slight on the integrity of some of us, where such a statement is made.
“If he has those kinds of evidence, he should bring it forward, because to say that is to suggest that every member of the National Assembly is part of this, even those who are not part of this are condoning this action which is far from the truth.
“I think that professor (Jega) who is respected should come out and mention these kind of members he is aware of. If he can’t come out and name then, he should not make such statements. Going forward, in issues that have to do with the institutions and a parliament, if there are cases like this, we have always said that we are not going to cover up for anybody. They should name them and see what the institution would do in trying to ensure that the necessary sanctions are taken.”
Saraki spoke in reaction to a point of order raised by Isah Hamman Misau, who had described Jega’s utterances as an infringement on his right as a lawmaker.
Misau called on Jega to reel out names of lawmakers or heads of committees that have asked for bribes from heads of government agencies.
He said since the event was beamed live, Nigerians had been erroneously swayed to think that lawmakers are thieves and urged his colleagues not to take the issue likely.
“Jega made a statement which I feel I have to bring to this floor. He made mention that some committee chairmen of the National Assembly are notorious for demanding or collecting bribes, which I feel is unfortunate. I feel that statement is very weighty because that programme was televised.
“The thing they need to understand is that these live programmes are watched around the world. I think you (Jega) should be bold enough to mention the committee chairmen, especially when it is about fighting corruption in Nigeria.
“If we really want to fight corruption and want to help the government, he (Jega) would not be making such statements without mentioning the committee chairmen and those who gave him that sort of information. I felt embarrassed. We need the professor to throw more light on what he made,” Misau said.
Jega, had while delivering a lecture to mark this year’s Democracy Day at the International Conference Centre, descended on members of both chambers of the National Assembly.
“Members of the National Assembly engage in bribe taking when they pursue committee works and oversight and I wonder what is happening with intelligence and investigative responsibilities of security agencies in policing our National Assembly. Some chairmen of committees in the National Assembly have become notorious on this issue of demanding for bribe with impunity.
“I have passed through the university system. I have heard so many stories of many vice chancellors about the horror that they go through on question of budget and so-called oversights assignments.
“I am not saying that chief executives are saints but all we are saying is that we must point the searchlights so that Nigerians and particularly public office holders should have basic common decency and integrity by which they discharge their responsibilities because virtually everybody seems to forget about what is going on.”
