Senate Boils Over Alleged Looting Of NASS Offices

Senators yesterday rose in anger over a comment by their colleague and former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.

Oshiomhole had alleged in an interview that there was looting of office equipment by members of the 9th Senate.

Raising a point of order, Senator Solomon Olamilekan (Ogun West) said a colleague granted a TV interview that, “we looted our offices”.

Olamilekan said he felt his privilege as a member of the 9th Senate had been breached.

He said items in their offices were bonded to them, and the value was deducted from their severance allowances and the money paid into consolidated revenue fund (CRF).

Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) said he also got that story on social media and thought it was fake news, until his colleague raised it, which made him know it was true.

The Senate majority whip, Ali Ndume, raised Order 24 & 42 to appeal to his colleagues to allow them resolve the matter in an executive session.

This was seconded by Senator Jibrin Isah (Kogi East) so that “we don’t wash our dirty linen in the public.”

But when the motion was put to vote, it was defeated with a resounding no, meaning it had to be discussed in public.

The Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who has been in the National Assembly since 1999 took time to educate the members that all items in the offices of every senator depreciate by 25 percent each year and in 4 years their values would come to zero percent.

“The items were legally removed”, adding that their colleague, “Adams Oshiomhole, perhaps is new and it’s a mistake on his part to have thought they were looted.

The Senate President Godswill Akpabio agreed with him and added that “over 70 percent of the senators are new members”.

Several calls from members that Oshiomhole should be allowed to state his own side of the story, gave the former National Chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC) to approach the aisle.

Oshiomohle told his colleagues that he had respect for any senator, not only the 9th Senate but all senators.

He said he didn’t speak with social media but a reputable TV station on the huge sums spent by the legislature, but Akpabio cut in to inform him that there is nothing like “huge sums”.

Oshiomohle appealed to the Senate President to allow him to speak his mind. “I want to say what is on my mind. I’m happy that what I said was recorded”.

“I said offices were vandalised. I said many senators used their money to buy basic items for their offices. This is what I said contrary to what was reported to the Senate”.

However, he said because of those who may have felt offended by his statement “I apologise”.