Senator Umeh Opens Can of Worms, Says "I’m not among 42 Senators who collected $10,000 from Akpabio"
Amid reports that some Nigerian Senators allegedly collected a bribe of $10,000 from Senate President, Godswill Akpabio before backing the Senate's approval of State of Emergency in Rivers state, with Senator Victor Umeh fingered to have played significant role in bribery scandal, the LP Senator might have opened a can of worms
Olufemi Orunsola
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Population and National Identity Management Commission, NIMC, Senator Victor Umeh, has denied allegations that he received dollars to support the state of emergency declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Rivers State.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the confession by the Senator, obviously intended as a statement of self-defence, has opened up a new can of worms on the ongoing crisis rocking the Nigerian Senate.
A statement by the Senator warned against serial blackmail, noting he was not among the 42 senators who collected $10,000 the previous day before the senators passed the state of emergency resolution.
Senator Umeh, in the statement, warned against serial blackmail, noting that he was not among the 42 senators who collected $10,000 the previous day before the senators passed the state of emergency as a resolution.
According to the Labour Party Senator, he did not receive any money to support the Approval of the State of Emergency in Rivers State and was not present at the alleged meeting on Wednesday, where $10,000 was allegedly given to 42 Senators, let alone one of the Key Figures that organized the event.
In his words, "I did not receive any money to support the Approval of the State of Emergency in Rivers State. I was not at the meeting where such payments were allegedly made.
Umeh explained that on the evening of Tuesday, he attended the traditional IFTAR (Breaking of Fasting) gathering at the Senate Guest House with their Muslim brothers and Sister, where he was asked to say the Christian Prayers after Senator Adamu Aliero said the Muslim Prayers after the IFTAR, said, ”I prayed for God to grant Peace to all parts of Nigeria and Reconciliation to all the warring parties in Rivers State.
He further revealed that he prayed for love and for all Nigerians to embrace one another, for the good of our nation, noting that, “We did not discuss the State of Emergency in Rivers State at the IFTAR. There were other Labour Party Senators at the IFTAR.”
Describing the story against him as blackmail, he stressed that it did not represent the truth, just as he assured his constituents that such reports would not distract him from providing good Representation to his people, adding that his detractors aimed to create dis- affection between him and the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial district.
He maintained that “I will not be distracted by their false reports, and I will continue to serve my constituents with dignity and integrity.”
OTN News further reports that the disclosure by Senator Umeh is coming after reports emerged that some Senators collected bribes amounting to $10,000 to approve the president’s decision to suspend the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara of which Umeh was particularly alleged to have played a significant role in the bribery saga as he was fingered to have been among the senators disbursing the money to other senators at the private lodge of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, in Abuja.
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