by Dolapo Adelana
The Senate has said the bulletproof Range Rover Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) impounded by the Nigeria Customs Service was bought for N62.5m and not N298m as reported.
In a statement on Tuesday by its spokesman, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the senate the vehicle was purchased in November 2015 for $298,000.
The statement said, “Our attention has been drawn to the various false and mischievous reports in the media about the price of the vehicle which the Senate was said to have bought as part of its convoy but was later abandoned when it got impounded by the Customs over the controversy surrounding import duty payment.
“The correct price of the vehicle when it was imported in 2015 is $298,000 which at the prevailing rate of N165 to a dollar is about N49,170. The Senate paid N62.5m for the vehicle in November 2015. This is contrary to the mischief by those who decided to turn the $298,000 to N298m as the price of the vehicle. For the avoidance of doubt, the price of that vehicle is N62.5m and not N298m.
“The Senate will appreciate it if all reports relating to the legislative institution, particularly on this vehicle matter, are reported with accuracy and all facts put in proper perspective. We urge journalists to avoid sensationalism. The Senate is a responsible institution and those who believe that when they have issues to explain before it, the next thing to do is to resort to falsehood, blackmail, muck-raking and mud-slinging, should know that they are just overheating the polity and undermining our democratic institution.
“Finally, the Senate wish to reiterate our total commitment to upholding the rule of law and to work for Nigerians, in accordance with our constitution.
Dolapo is a writer and journalist who works with YNaija. He has interests in Christianity, politics and sports.
that is a huge amount