Taraba Assembly Denies N1.5 Billion Bribery Allegation For Loan Approval

 

The Taraba State House of Assembly has denied media reports that it received N1.5 Billion bribe from the Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba to approve the request for N350 Billion bond.

 

 Mr. Nelson Len, Chairman, house committee on Information who gave the clarification on Friday while speaking to newsmen in Jalingo said the allegations were not only far-fetched but baseless and mere distractions.

 

Len said the house approved the bond request after duly considering it and ascertaining that it was in the best interest of the State.

He explained that part of the bond was to be used to service the newly created agencies in the state as well as to boost road infrastructure in the state.

 

The lawmaker maintained that the governor does not need to bribe the House for the members to perform their constitutional responsibilities that they were elected to perform.

 

According to him, "the State Governor has been very supportive to the House, and this is reflective in our ability to do things for our various constituents even when their is no provision for Constituency Project Allowances for members.

 

 

"When people say that the House is a robber stamped assembly, I laugh. 

 

"We were not elected to come and oppose the executive. Instead, we were elected to work collaboratively with the executive arm of government to provide dividends of democracy to the people. 

 

"What you also need to understand is that, contrary approvals for loans do not necessarily translate to actually accessing the loans.

 

" In most cases, some conditions may not be met and that will affect full disbursement of the facilities. So the general impression that the government has borrowed so much may be very wrong". he added.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the House recently gave approval for the state governor to take a bond of N350 Billion.

 

The Opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state allege that the governor gave N1.5 Billion as kickback to the House to secure thier approval.