March 24, (THEWILL) – Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has denied claims that he distributed $5,000 to lawmakers as an inducement to support the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, insisting that the money was merely a Sallah gift.
Betara made the clarification through Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar, who shared details of their conversation on his X handle.
According to Jaafar, Betara personally reached out to explain that the cash distribution was part of a long-standing tradition and unrelated to the political crisis in Rivers State.
“The Chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State. As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg,” Jaafar wrote.
The clarification comes amid allegations that lawmakers were bribed to support President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
Reports suggested that senators received $15,000 to endorse the move, with $5,000 allegedly paid on Tuesday and another $10,000 on Wednesday, the day before the vote.
President Tinubu had, in a nationwide address on Tuesday, declared a state of emergency in Rivers, suspending the executive and legislature while appointing retired naval officer, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, as administrator.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, defended the decision, stating that it was made in the best interest of both the people and the country.
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