Ways and Means: Reps deny receipt of Buhari’s facilitation largesse

The House of Representatives has denied knowledge of the reported bribe of $15 million to facilitate the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari’s request for N22.7 trillion Ways and Means from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

A recent media report had alleged that the said bribe money was received by the House from the executive arm to water the ground for a smooth approval of the requested advance from the CBN.

However, the spokesman of the House and the nominated deputy speakership candidate for the 10th House, Benjamin Kalu, described the publication as “false.”

In a statement issued Friday, Kalu said, “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.”