$9.3m arms deal: PDP Reps in $20,000 bribery scandal..

There was pandemonium on the floor of  the House of Representatives, yesterday, following allegations of a $50,000 bribe to members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to suppress a house inquest into the alleged $9.3 million cash seized by the South African Government.

Aliyu Madaki (APC-Kano) accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of collecting $20,000 to hinder the motion on the $9.3 million Federal Government cash seized in South Africa. The money was ostensibly for the purchase of arms.

The PDP deputy leader in the House, Rep. Leo Ogor, however,  yesterday, described the allegation as an embarrassment, unparliamentary and an act of blackmail.

The House nevertheless directed its committee to investigate the fresh scam allegation and report within two weeks.

Members of the PDP said Madaki accused them in media reports of collecting $50,000 to truncate the motion moved by the Deputy Minority Leader Ismaila Kawu on Tuesday.

But Madaki stood his ground saying he gave the interviews, insisting that the PDP lawmakers collected $20,000 and not $50,000 as stated in the reports.

He said: “What happened was that I received a call to confirm if members were given $50,000 each to kill the motion. I said that what I know is that (PDP) members were given $20,000 each.”

But angry PDP lawmakers insisted that Madaki should list those who received the bribe. Proceedings stopped for a while.

Albert Sam-Tsokwa, chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business while standing on Order 8, Rule 20 of the House, had insisted that the motion, which was not debated upon on Tuesday, was in line with the House rules.

He, however, denied knowledge of the alleged bribe, adding that the newspaper reports breached his privilege as a lawmaker.

He said: “It is not to my knowledge that $50,000 was paid to me or any other member (of the PDP). My privilege, as an honourable member, has been and is being breached. As I stated yesterday, infrastructure and related motions are not to be debated. It is contained in our rules.

“We are all aware that infrastructure motion can be raised, seconded and voted upon. This is not the first time issues like this have been brought to the floor of the House and rejected.”

Sam-Tsokwa urged the House to ask the Committee on Ethics and Privileges to probe the allegation.

While ruling on the motion, Emeka Ihedioha, Deputy Speaker, said members should be careful of their actions and utterances as the House “is in trying times”.

He added: “We should be careful as circumstances like this could lead to casualty. It is not my wish that such should happen. It is regrettable that despite the fact that I bent over to take the motion, there was still a walk-out.”

Ihedioha referred the motion to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges, which is to report to the House within two weeks.