Farouq Aliyu claims rejection of bribes for Obasanjo third-term bid

Farouq Aliyu, the former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has claimed that he rejected a N250 million bribe intended to support former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial third-term agenda. Speaking on the ‘Naija Unfiltered’ podcast, Aliyu asserted that the push for a constitutional amendment to allow Obasanjo to serve a third term was a reality, despite the former president’s repeated denials.

Aliyu stated that during discussions regarding the agenda, Nuhu Ribadu, then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requested his presence in Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo. Aliyu reported being offered N250 million by an unnamed individual during this period. He also claimed that then-Speaker of the House, Aminu Masari, rejected an offer of N400 million to support the bid. According to Aliyu, other lawmakers were offered a minimum of N50 million to support the agenda.

The third-term agenda remains a significant moment in Nigerian political history; in May 2006, the National Assembly ultimately rejected the bill that would have enabled Obasanjo to run for a third successive term.