Ebonyi Speaker Denies Extorting N17.5m From Commissioner-nominees

The Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Moses Odunwa, has described as false and mischievous the alleged extortion of N17.5 million from the 35 Commissioner-nominees sent by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, to the Assembly for screening and confirmation.

LEADERSHIP reports that the nominees had already appeared before the House for screening and subsequent confirmation.

The Speaker in an interaction with journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, maintained that the allegation of the extortion was misleading, false and mischievous as the State House of Assembly cannot be associated with such act.

He described the allegation as the handiwork of the detractors of the State government and opposition members in the State, warning those spreading the falsehood to desist from it or face the full wrath of the law.

“Ebonyi State House of Assembly works by the rule of law and, therefore, such practice cannot revolve around lawmakers like us.

“The 7th State House of Assembly under my watch has never asked any of the 35 commissioner-nominees from the governor to give us any kobo, either by transfer or by cash, and I can authoritatively defend it anywhere,” the Speaker said.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the newly inaugurated State House of Assembly came under verbal attacks by the opposition parties in the State following the allegation that the lawmakers demanded a sum of N500,000 each from the 35 nominees, whose names were  forwarded to the House by the governor for screening and possible confirmation as Commissioners.

A chieftain of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was said to have taken to his Facebook page to accuse the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Odunwa, and other members of the House of refusing to screen the Commissioner-nominees pending when the money was paid.

The chieftain also alleged that the House also threatened to ensure that any nominee, who fails to pay the sum, would not be screened or confirmed for appointment as Commissioner by the House.