Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has denied claims by former Chairman House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin that he distributed $20,000 to each member of the committee to testify against him (Jibrin).

He made the denial in a statement released on Friday, through his deputy chief of staff, Hon. Maduabum.

Some members of the committee had said Jibrin didn’t carry them along on the budget process and totally disassociated themselves from the allegations he made against the Speaker and three other principal officers.

In the statement, Dogara denied meeting or giving anyone money.

“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.

“I wish to state that I did not at any time meet or hand over any money of any sort to any member of the House Appropriations Committee. This 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Azeez