Adamawa Lawmaker Denies Collecting N30m Ramadan Gifts

By Peter James

The member representing Uba/Gaya constituency in the Adamawa state House of Assembly, Hon.  Mohammed Atiku Hayatu, has vehemently denied collecting N30m as Ramadan gifts from the ministry of Local Government Affairs as alleged by an online news medium.

He described the report as malicious, absurd, blackmail and an outright fabrication to tarnish his image, while dismissing the report as untrue and unfounded, Atiku Hayatu said the report was far from the truth and it was the handiwork of his political detractors to pull him down.

The member who is also the chairman House standing committee on Local Government Affairs said the report with a damaging content was a product of which hunt targeted to smudge his rising profile in the state. He challenged anyone with facts and figures on the matter to come forward and present it or will institute a legal action against anyone peddling such mischief.

Hon Atiku Hayatu disclosed that he is barely one month in office since his inauguration and that at no time did he or any member of his committee forwarded any memo requesting for any amount of money for the House or their electorates. According to him since he was inaugurated his major concern was to better the welfare of his community and to give unalloyed loyalty and support to the speaker of the Adamawa state House of Assembly and the Governor of the state. He revealed that it would be foolhardy for anybody to imagine that he would collect N30m and15 Hajj seats against the 25 lawmakers, sounding a strong word of warning to such traducers who specializes in damaging the character and image of respected politicians like him.

Some of his colleagues at the House of Assembly who spoke to newsmen observed that the report was false and aimed at damaging the image of the vibrant young lawmaker, saying no such money was giving to any of the 25 lawmakers in Adamawa state House of Assembly talk less of diverting it.