Senate spokesman: No lawmaker hoarded COVID-19 relief items

Ajibola Basiru, spokesman of the senate, says no member of the upper legislative house hoarded COVID-19 relief items.

Basiru said this in reaction to some reports that governors and national assembly members hoarded relief items following the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.

There was massive looting of warehouses containing COVID-19 relief items across the country, in the aftermath of the demonstrations against police brutality.

In a statement on Monday, the Osun senator described the allegations as “wicked lies or deliberate misinformation”.

The legislator said no senator received any item from the federal government for their constituents, adding that they donated 50 percent of their salaries to cushion the effect of COVID-19.

“While not speaking for the governors, I make bold to say that no federal lawmaker and, indeed, no senator received any kobo from Mr President or any foodstuff or any material for that matter, talk less of hoarding them,” he said.

“Rather, at the senate, we donated half of members’ salaries for the purpose of cushioning the effect of COVID 19.

“We legislators equally played our part by purchasing and distributing palliatives to people at our different constituencies.

“So, it is quite unfortunate for Kilani Mohammed or anyone to castigate us in the public and saying what is not true.”

Basiru also asked the public to be cautious against “deliberate falsehood to paint federal lawmakers in bad light for whatever motive”.