The Senate has warned the public against what it described as “vicious attempts” to tarnish its image and that of its leadership.
The Senate’s position was contained in a statement on Friday by the Senate Leader’s Directorate of Media and Public Affairs.
The statement titled “Senate frowns at false claims against Bamidele, mulls stiffer action,” expressed concern over what it described as recent efforts to undermine public trust in the National Assembly.
The Senate, while reacting to a petition against its leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said it would no longer treat cases of cheap blackmail against it or any member of the Red Chamber with levity.
The statement noted that the latest incident involves a petition addressed to the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN).
The petition said to have been signed by Convener of the Public Procurement Transparency Group, David Udoh, accused Bamidele of pressuring the Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Abba Aliyu, into awarding contracts to companies linked to the Senator, in violation of the Public Procurement Act of 2007.
In dismissing the allegation as baseless and unsupported by any credible evidence, the statement also quoted the REA as having issued a statement refuting the claims, asserting that its management had never been pressured to compromise the integrity of its procurement process.
The statement from Bamidele’s office further highlighted the proliferation of “cheap blackmail” by faceless groups and individuals using social media to disseminate falsehoods.
According to the Senate Leader’s media team, “preliminary investigations revealed that the Public Procurement Transparency Group is not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and that its Convener, David Udoh, is untraceable, with a non-functional phone contact. Additionally, it was confirmed that no petition had been submitted to the ICPC by the group.”
In a warning to those behind the campaigns of misinformation, the statement noted that Nigeria operates under a federal system governed by the Constitution, Acts of the National Assembly, and judicial precedents.
The Senate Leader’s office declared its intention to pursue legal action against those found guilty of blackmailing the Senate or its leadership.
“We have endured enough all sorts of cheap blackmail by faceless groups and individuals using some bloggers and social media to feed the unsuspecting public with falsehoods and fallacies capable of causing further damage not just to the image of the National Assembly, but also to the public perception of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, especially among comity of nations,” the statement read.
The Senate added that it will no longer treat issues of blackmail with levity.
“Nigeria is a federation of 36 states and Federal Capital Territory governed by the Constitution, Acts of National Assembly and judicial precedents.
“Henceforth, we shall no more treat cases of cheap blackmail against the Senate, its leadership and the National Assembly lightly.
“But we shall treat such infractions within the confine of extant laws, and whoever found guilty in the process shall face the full wrath of the laws,” it concluded.
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