Chief of Staff to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. C.ID Maduabum, has denied the allegation that he distributed $20,000 to each member of the Appropriation Committee members to address the media where they stated their grouse against the ex-Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin.

He said in a statement issued on Friday evening: “My attention has been drawn to a Statement issued by the disgraced and sacked former Chairman of Appropriation Committee, Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, wherein he falsely, recklessly and maliciously claimed that I distributed $20,000 to each member of the Committee to address the media where they stated their grouse against him.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Hon Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, did not give me any money to distribute to any member of the House or, indeed, any member of the Appropriations Committee.”

Maduabum explained that he did not, at any time, meet or hand over any money of any sort to any member of the House Appropriations Committee, adding that "the accusation is not only a lie but pure fiction, a figment of his imagination, which can only come from a man whose soul is deeply corrupted.”

Reacting further, he maintained: “It is really shocking that this kind of despicable character could slip through the political process and become an Honourable member of the House of Representatives, a highly respected institution, where we all passed through. This has confirmed that Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin, is a serial blackmailer, a man with the basest of motives, whose sanity has become questionable.

“The Honourable Speaker is a decent man, a man of high intellect, integrity and character, who cannot descend to the gutter where Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin holds sway. He does not need to do so as the Hon members are adults who can hold their own positions and can defend themselves.”

•Photo shows Speaker Dogara.

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