Nigerian Senators Indignant as Akpabio Exposes N2 Million Bribe

A viral video capturing Senate President Godswill Akpabio allegedly admitting to the distribution of undisclosed sums of money to Nigerian senators during ministerial screening has sparked outrage among the upper legislative chamber.

The senators are reportedly furious over the exposure of the bribery scheme, which they claim has brought ridicule and embarrassment to their ranks.

In the video, Akpabio can be heard stating, “In order to enable all of us to enjoy our holidays, a token has been sent to our various accounts by the clerk of the national assembly.” However, the statement caused an uproar among the senators, prompting Akpabio to backtrack and rephrase it as a humorous reference to receiving prayers in their mailboxes.

Sources within the National Assembly have disclosed that the senators are indignant over the revelation, which highlights the disbursement of N2 million (approximately $4,900 USD) to each senator. According to these sources, Senate President Akpabio had allegedly received N1 billion (approximately $2.4 million USD) from ministerial nominees.

The senators view Akpabio’s actions as an attempt to blackmail them into accepting the “paltry sum” of N2 million, while he reportedly retained the bulk of the bribe money paid by ministerial nominees. They express concern that the exposure of this bribery practice has created divisions between the senators and their constituents, who were previously unaware of the financial incentives associated with allowing ministerial nominees to proceed without rigorous scrutiny.

The controversy surrounding this scandal comes against the backdrop of rising inflation and soaring food prices, which have pushed many Nigerians into deeper poverty. The disclosure of the senators’ alleged acceptance of bribe money for ministerial screening has ignited public anger and condemnation.

This scandal raises questions about the transparency and integrity of Nigeria’s legislative process and the commitment of its senators to the welfare of the citizens they represent. As Nigerians grapple with economic challenges, the news of their elected representatives allegedly benefiting from such practices further erodes public trust in the political system.