Gov. Lalong Allegedly Bribed Plateau Assembly Members to Approve 10 Billion Naira Loan For Him

Following their refusal to approve his ten billion naira loan request, the Governor Plateau Simon Lalong may have gone a step further to make sure that the loan facility request sees the light of the day at the Plateau House of Assembly Chamber.

This is this medium gathered that from an Assembly source, that the Governor has allegedly bribed his way before the Assembly members; “we all know what happened, these are the members that refused the loan request initially after they have given good reasons why the loan should not be approved, and now the turned to approve it.”

Universalreporters247.com learnt that it is alleged that the Plateau State House of Assembly members received millions of naira as bribe all for them approve the request of the Governor, Barr. Simon Lalong to access 10 Billion naira loan from Excess Crude Account (ECA) which he said it is to be specifically used for developmental projects in the state.

The receiving of the loan this medium gathered it is alleged that some of the members of PLHA received bribes to allow the loan to be given a fast landing.

Meanwhile the principal actor who always fight the opposition, the  APC, Prince Vincent venmak election was nullified by election tribunal for allegations of 419.

The House had earlier received a communique from Governor Lalong at its Plenary Session on the 13th of October, 2015 on a request for the House resolution for the state to access 10 Billion Excess Crude Account loan.

The House however, asked the committees on Finance to invite the permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance and Accountant-General of the State to appear before the Committees to give details of the Projects the State intend to use the loans for and report back to the House.

Consequently, the House on Tuesday October 20th, 2015, at its sitting approved the request of the Governor upon receiving the report of the committee.

While interacting with our correspondent at the close of the section, the Member representing Mangu South and Committee Chairman Environmental and Solid Mineral, Hon Emmanuel Dakas, said that the State has no choice rather than access the loan to enable the completion of the abandon projects by previous administration.

In his words: “we approved the loan because that is the only option for the State to get funds to complete most of the projects left behind by the immediate out-gone government. The Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) has already been tied down with the loan collected by the past administration, so apart from the Statutory Allocation and Vat, the state does not have any other source of income since the IGR is already tied down to a loan that was collected. If not for the bail out funds, the state would have been unable to pay salaries”, he said.

With the approval of the loan, Plateau state is subject to pay a total of 9% as interest from the total sum of 10 billion naira.