By Muhammed Saheed
The Nigerian Senate had yesterday rebutted the claim made against its members of receiving N20m COVID-19 palliative from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Director of Projects, Interim Management Committee of the NDDC, in a newspaper interview, alleged that the agency doled out N20m to each senator while each of the House of Representatives members collected N15m as COVID-19 palliative.
Dr. Ajibola Basiru, Senate Spokesperson who dismissed the claim, charged Ojougboh to either release the full list of the lawmakers who benefitted from the palliative or tender a public apology immediately.
The statement reads; “The Senate views with grave concern a statement credited to Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, the Executive Director, Projects of the NDDC, who alleged that National Assembly members received varying sums of money as COVID-19 palliative.
“The Senate challenges Dr. Ojougboh to publicly provide evidence of his claim and list the names of the Senators he allegedly gave the alleged sum. Failure to provide evidence of his claim, the Senate hereby demands an immediate retraction and a public apology from Dr. Cairo Ojougboh.”
