Senate Slams Jega For Calling Lawmakers ‘Notorious Bribe Seekers’

For using the tag ‘notorious bribe seekers’ to describe members of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate has slammed former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega.

THE WHISTLER recalls that Jega, during his 2018 Democracy Day lecture on Monday, had said: “some chairmen of committees at the National Assembly are notorious for seeking for bribes.”

The Democracy Day programme was aired live on a National television.

The event which had both President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara in attendance, was held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

But reacting to the former INEC Chairman’s statement on Wednesday, the Senate adopted a motion raised by Senator Isa Misau, asking Jega to name the senators he claimed were notorious for seeking bribes.

Misau said of Jega’s castigation of the lawmakers on live TV: “The thing they need to understand is that these live programmes are watched around the world. And at the time he made that statement, I am a member of ECOWAS parliament and I after the lecture, I went to the parliament. Most of the parliamentarians, this was the question they were asking me, that what the Professor said, is it true or not?

“I feel that not only Professor Jega but anybody that would make statements concerning the credibility of this Senate and the chairmen, I think you should be bold enough to mention the committee chairmen, especially when it is about fighting corruption in Nigeria.

“If we really want to fight corruption and want to help the government, he would not be making such statements without mentioning the committee chairmen and those who gave him that sort of information. I felt embarrassed. We need the professor to throw more light on what he made,” he said.

On his part, the Senate President expressed embarrassment at the former INEC Chairman’s allegation against the National Assembly members.

Saraki said, “It is a slight to the integrity of some of us, where such a statement is made. If he has those kinds of evidences, he should bring it forward. Because to say that, is to suggest that every member of the National Assembly is part of this; even those who are not part of this are condoling this action which is far from the truth.

“I think the professor who is respected should come out and mention these kinds of members he is aware of. If he can’t come out and name them then he should not make such branding statements.

“Going forward to all distinguished and respected Nigerians, in issues that have to do with the institutions and a parliament, if there are cases like this, we have always said that we are not going to cover up for anybody and future accusations, they should name them and see what the institution would do in trying to ensure that the necessary sanctions are taken,” said the Senate President.