The Nigerian Senate says it is not aware of any allegation concerning a reported transaction of ₦68 million allegedly linked to the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe.
The clarification followed a businessman, Nonso Okafor’s allegation that he was persuaded in October 2024 to pay the lawmaker $100,000 through a senior legislative aide, Osereme Christen Omofoma.
He told me the money would be either returned or balanced out with federal government contracts.
Okafor through his lawyer, Elochukwu Obi, later petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to probe the issue.
The senator at the centre of the allegation had earlier dismissed the claims, calling it false and an attempt to tarnish her image. But the businessman has stood by his story, saying his account was accurate.
Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, told Guardian that the Senate had no record of such case.
He said the legislature does not interfere in the personal business of the legislators outside their official duties.
The Senate, he said, focuses on its core functions – lawmaking, oversight and representation – and considers only issues that are formally presented to it.
Adaramodu declared that the allegation of abuse of office is still an allegation, adding that the Senate can only act on issues officially presented to it.
He said: “We have no such case before us. We don’t know that. We don’t go into the personal involvement of senators outside the chambers and the National Assembly.
“That’s an allegation. We have no such case in hand. We can only speak of what is in front of us. “We care about anything relating to law-making, oversight and representation.
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