Ex-Lawmaker Says He Turned Down ₦250 Million Bribe… 20 Years Later, He’s Finally Telling Us

A former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Farouq Aliyu, has claimed he rejected a ₦250 million bribe allegedly offered to secure his support for ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo’s failed bid to extend his tenure beyond two terms back in 2006.

Speaking on the “Naija Unfiltered” podcast, Aliyu alleged that then-Speaker Aminu Masari and Majority Leader Abdul Ningi were each offered ₦400 million, while rank-and-file lawmakers reportedly got a minimum of ₦50 million apiece to back the so-called “third term agenda.” He said the money came through an intermediary, not directly from Obasanjo, who has always denied pursuing a third term.

“Third term agenda was real. In fact, ₦250 million was given to me. I did not take it,” Aliyu said, adding that ₦50 million was “dashed to small fries” among lawmakers.

The constitutional amendment ultimately failed in May 2006, with Aliyu crediting Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar and George Akume for helping kill it.

Two decades later and the reveals are still coming — Naija politics really does keep receipts, just on a very long delay.

Source: Legit.ng. Photo: file photo of Olusegun Obasanjo (public domain, U.S. DoD archive).