Alleged $10m bribe: Reps threatens litigation against CUPP

…Makes Uturn to hold public hearing

The House of Representatives on Tuesday 
made a U-turn to hold a public hearing on the quarantine act 2004 to repeal the controversial infectious diseases bill following public outcry.

The House Unanimously adopted the motion to take legal actions against a publication by the spokesman of the CUPP in a press briefing. The publication had alleged that the lawmakers had collected a ten million dollar bribe from the international community to let the bill pass against the wishes of the Nigerian.  

Recall that Since the motion to repeal the quarantine Infectious diseases bill was introduced last week Tuesday, there has been a raging discourse as to whether or not to subject the bill to a public hearing.

There are those who believe that the introduction of the bill was wrongly timed and may make laws for compulsory intake of vaccination in Nigeria.

But what has fueled the controversy are allegations that a bribe of 10 billion dollars was given to the lawmakers to enable the bill to scale through. 

Bringing up the subject matter at plenary Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila debunked news making the rounds that the proposed bill was a product of inducement by the foreign community.

He also denied the conspiracy theory that the House was taking actions against the interest of Nigerians here or abroad.

Mr Gbajabiamila said the current framework is obsolete hence the need to review the law. He disagreesd with the objection that the timing was wrong. 

The Speaker noted that the number of those infected has continued to rise and there is no time line when the disease will stop. He said he believes that the country’s present situation demands urgent attention 

He said “the bill which is still a proposal subject to consideration, amendment and improvement has been seen as a sinister attempt to tie Nigerians into Guinea pigs for medical research while taking away thier fundamental human rights”

” None of this allegations are true, unfortunately we now live in a time when conspiracy theories have gained such currency that genuine endeavours in the public interest can quickly become mischaracterised and misconstrued to raise a specter of sinister intend and ominous possibility”

Lending his support, the Deputy speaker Idris Wase rose to say” there is an issue going on around the country that we are given 10 million dollars and it has gone viral. Mr speaker I want to say far as am concern dime has not reached me, nobody has distributed anything to me. I reacted in the interest of Nigeria and in the collective interest of our Nation, Mr speaker they have breached my privilege and I think it should not just go like that, I want to plead again that the House should set up Committee to investigate this serious allegation and if possible take legal measure.”

“This is the same people who will just go to the corridor of the press, and make a press statement against Nigeirans. We have our integrity, I can raise my head up anytime, anywhere and I want to say no dime was given” he said

However the House leader Alhasssan Ado Doguwa rose up to say ” I need to put kn record to say nothing was given to me whatsoever, I rise on behalf of the 10 member leadership of this House of Representatives to say very clearly to say no dime of kobo had been given to any one of us”

“We are doing this in our commitment to serve our nation, this is a bill that we feel can go a long way in protecting the lives and well being of our people, nothing more nothing less and I want to say this should not be left at the level of clarification of the green chamber of the House of Representatives, we must have to take legal action to protect our integrity. ” we have moral responsibility and moral commitment to protect the integrity of our persons and integrity of our respective families”

Also Contributing Ndudi Elumelu, the Minority leader said ” on behalf of my colleagues in the opposition and also the members i have taken time to call them, those I could get on phone to confirm if they have gotten anything and they are all here and they can attest to the fact that they did not get a dime from anybody including those who are in the All Progressives Congress that are here as members of house of Rep.and none got anything”

“In addition Mr Speaker, they also allege that the day Bill gate foundation came to the House of Reps and all of us was in attendance, that was when the thing kick started” I want to submit that at no time did such a thing happen and I am standing by it on behalf of my colleagues”

The Lawmakers are particularly incensed by the allegations of bribery and have threatened litigation against the online publication 

This is coming days after a press briefing by the leader of the Coalition of Unitrd political party (CUPP) Ikenga Ugochinyere alleging that the House had received the sum of 10 million dollars by the American Computer Czar, Bill Gates to influence the speedy passage of the bill without going through public hearing

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