Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The House of Representatives has dismissed as “baseless and unfounded,” media reports that it received $15 million inducement from the Federal Government to restructure the N22.7 trillion Ways and Means taken from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.
The lower legislative chamber urged members of the public to disregard the misleading media reports planted by mischief makers to blackmail the House.
Image maker of the House and lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, in a press statement, said that such allegation was a figment of the imagination of the peddlers.
Below is the full text of the statement made available to Ikengaonline:
“The attention of the House of Representatives and the leadership of the house has been drawn to a malicious media report alleging that 15 million dollars was received from the executive arm to approve the request of President Muhammadu Buhari to restructure the N22.7 trillion ways and means advances taken from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The allegations are not only false, but also baseless and unfounded.
“Usually, the House would have refrained from dignifying such a report with a response, having faith that all well-intentioned Nigerians would outrightly dismiss it. However, it has become imperative to address the report and the unfounded claims made therein for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“As elected representatives, our decisions and actions are taken in the public interest. It should be remembered that the House had temporarily deferred the approval of the executive’s request, following the recommendations of the relevant committees of the House, which called for further engagement with the Executive in order to facilitate a comprehensive and meticulous analysis and deliberation on public interventions the executive earmarked the said request for.
“We implore the media to exercise restraint and desist from disseminating unfounded allegations that have the potential to tarnish the reputation of public institutions and individuals, particularly during this critical period when lawmakers are deeply engrossed in the political competition for the leadership positions in the impending 10th National Assembly.”
