The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has refuted claims that lawmakers were given $5,000 as a bribe to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
Betara clarified that the money was a routine “Sallah gesture” shared with members of his committee and had no connection to the political crisis in Rivers.
His explanation came in response to reports alleging that lawmakers received monetary incentives to endorse the emergency declaration.
Nigerian investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar disclosed the development via his X handle, stating that Betara personally reached out to him to set the record straight.
According to Jaafar, the lawmaker maintained that distributing such gifts during festive periods was a long-standing tradition.
“The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State,” Jaafar wrote.
According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.
“As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg,” he added.
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