The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on drugs, narcotics and financial crimes, Adams Jagaba on Tuesday denied being in possession of the $620, 000 bribe money offered the former Chairman, House ad-hoc committee that probed the management of subsidy fund, Farouk Lawan.
Mr Lawan, in his statement, claimed he formally wrote Mr Jagaba, informing him of moves by oil tycoon, Femi Otedola, to bribe the subsidy probe panel and attached the sum of $620,000 which Mr Otedola paid.
In a letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, titled “Re: investigation activities: request for handing over of exhibits in connection with the case of criminal conspiracy and taking gratification to prevent the course of justice”, Mr Jagaba wrote that, “I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 USD or any other exhibits (in my personal capacity or official capacity as chairman house committee on drugs, narcotics and financial crimes) relating to the subject matter of the above investigation.
“I hope this explanation lays to rest once and for all the claims that I or my committee is in possession of the sum of $620,000 USD purportedly given as bribe to the ad hoc committee on monitoring of fuel subsidy regime.”
On Monday, Mr Lawan had reportedly pleaded with the investigators handling the bribery allegations against him to allow him attend the plenary session of the House of Representatives on Wednesday so that he can retrieve the money from Mr Jagaba.
