Suntai: Ex-Speaker denies bribery allegations

A former Speaker of Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr. Isa Ajiya, on Sunday denied allegations that the state Acting Governor, Garba Umar, offered bribes to members of the House to reject the resumption letter written by Governor Danbaba Suntai.

He said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He described the allegations as reprehensible and an assault on the integrity of the lawmakers.

Ajiya, who was reacting to a statement credited to a media aide of Governor Suntai, Mr. Sylvester Giwa, threatened legal action against the media aide if the allegation was not withdrawn.

He challenged Giwa to produce any evidence to support the bribery allegations or be prepared for prosecution.

Ajiya said, “The allegation is unfounded and we challenge Giwa to provide proof. If not, we will expose them in a manner we have never done before.

“We will reveal to the world why this cabal was desperate to rule even when it is clear Governor Suntai is médically unfit to rule the state.

“They were so desperate that they had to write a letter of resumption of the governor by proxy, they were so desperate that they had to drag the Assembly to court by proxy.

“The case in court against the Assembly was the handiwork of the cabal,” he said.

The former Speaker also alleged that the case currently in court was originated by those he called members of the “cabal” and not Suntai.

He also insisted that the acting Governor, was never involved in any court action against his boss.

On the allegation that Umar had betrayed his boss, the former Speaker said it was rather the cabal that had betrayed the governor by placing their greed for power over and above the safety and health of the governor.

Meanwhile, the police in Taraba on Sunday released Giwa, who was arrested last Friday by the state police command.

His release came amidst explanations by the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Jibril Adeniji, that Giwa’s arrest was ordered by “higher authorities.”

Giwa, who was arrested along side three others was later driven to the state Police Headquarters by a team of armed mobile policemen who allegedly told him that his arrest was an order from above.

Our correspondent gathered that his release followed intervention by prominent individuals in the state.

Giwa told our correspondent that he was released on bail and asked to report back on Monday (today).

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