Reps Members Got N7.6Million Each As ‘Sallah Gesture,’ Not Bribe For Tinubu’s Emergency Rule In Rivers, Betara Confirms To Journalist

Fresh details have emerged regarding the controversial cash payments made to Nigerian lawmakers amid President Bola Tinubu’s push for a state of emergency in Rivers State.

In a desperate attempt at damage control, the Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has denied that the funds were bribes to secure support for the emergency rule.

Investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar disclosed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that Betara reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a "Sallah Gesture" and not an inducement.

According to the journalist, Betara said it was part of a long-standing tradition and had nothing to do with the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State.

"The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 to each member of his committee as a 'Sallah Gesture' not an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State. According to him, he maintains the tradition – like Santa Claus – every year. As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg," Jaafar posted.

However, this explanation corroborates SaharaReporters' previous exclusive findings, which revealed that substantial sums were handed out at Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s guest house in Maitama, Abuja, to sway lawmakers in favour of the emergency rule.

Multiple sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that Akpabio’s guest house at No. 22, Yedeseram Street was the epicentre of the cash distribution. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, senators were discreetly handed stacks of dollars, allegedly as a reward for supporting Tinubu’s controversial move.

"The venue was the Senate President's guest house at No. 22, Yedeseram Street, Maitama, where 42 senators were given $10,000 each last Wednesday night, and 45 senators received $5,000 each on Tuesday night, March 18, to pass the controversial Rivers State emergency rule," a top source confirmed.

Adding fuel to the scandal, SaharaReporters also learned that Labour Party senators Victor Umeh and Neda Imasuen played key roles in facilitating the payout despite their party's opposition stance.

"They were the only Labour Party senators present at both events on Tuesday and Wednesday nights and participated in collecting the money," a source disclosed.

This comes amid earlier reports that FCT Minister Nyesom Wike allegedly provided over $3 million to Akpabio to ensure the Senate backed the emergency rule declaration. Sources told SaharaReporters that Wike and Akpabio met following Tinubu’s directive to "do the groundwork” for the emergency declaration.

The cash reportedly flowed during an Iftar dinner attended by selected senators, where varying amounts of dollars were allegedly distributed based on lawmakers' seniority.

Despite the massive cash incentives, some prominent senators, including former governors Seriake Dickson and Aminu Tambuwal, reportedly snubbed the event.

Further intrigue unfolded last Wednesday when Senate deliberations on the emergency rule were postponed to 3 p.m., allegedly to prevent a full house from voting on the matter. According to insiders, Senate President Akpabio orchestrated the delay to ensure that opposition voices were absent when the motion was pushed forward.

"The senators requested an open vote, but Akpabio postponed it until 3 p.m. when most senators would have left the chamber," a source told SaharaReporters.

"At least 72 senators are required to sign, but fewer than 60 were present today. The House of Representatives also needs a minimum of 240 votes. Meanwhile, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas was not informed, which explains the chaos in the House of Representatives today."

President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing political instability and security threats, including recent oil pipeline vandalism.

However, the revelations of cash-for-support allegations raise serious questions about the move's legitimacy and the extent of the political manoeuvring behind it.

https://saharareporters.com/2025/03/24/reps-members-got-n76million-each-sallah-gesture-not-bribe-tinubus-emergency-rule-rivers

Dem say Obj bribed lawmakers during his tenure for third term rule. They condemned it to high heavens only for them to do what they accuse Obj of doing.

A Nigerian politician in opposition isn’t actually mad about how the country is being run, he’s mad because he doesn’t have the power the ruling party has. Give him power and see him quickly become worse than what he condemned.

😁 You don't even know how to lie ..

O ni agbara. Labour party and PDP lawmakers didn't reject the bribe.

Tinubu the most corrupt person in the world right now 🤒

Let them enjoy but not forget to throw crumbs to the idiots who come here day and night to defend them

That Toh idiot and his bunch of fellow zombies should get some share at least

Nigeria is just the best country to be a politician. You don't have to do anything, some zombies will always be there in your defense.

Let them enjoy joor

This country is finished

And the ordinary Masses or citizens of Nigeria got

HARDSHIP as Sallah gift from T-PAIN

a man that emptied all his bullion vans to grab power won't be a good leader quote me anywhere.please one agbero (yarimo) should help check if bullion van number 19 is filled up time to load number 20

That was the SOE "prayer email" they received
The most shamelessly corrupt set of law breakers ever seen in the annals of this nation

President Tinubu is a man of the people. We know how the politicians operate, so this is nothing new.

In the end, what matters is that the right decisions are made for the country and her citizens.

Annoyingly, Pdp, LP lawmakers never rejected the money

It seems the money was shared by ranking and influence.
Some received $25,000, some $1500 and the rest $5000.

Hmm...

This is a non issue.

The President needs all the support he can get to make the emergency declaration effective.

Mr. President lead us well.

And they're looking for investors?

Which responsible investors will invest in such a country where rule of law is in comatose

All bc they don't want Fabura as govt of the state

Sallah gift for achieving what ?

I hope Tinubu sent Helinues, Madridguy, commentor and the rest of the guys here 7.6 million for Sallah ? Those guys have put up solid work for him and his evil party here more than NASs

FuckFuckPastor:


Investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar disclosed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that

Multiple sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that

the controversial Rivers State emergency rule,"a top source confirmed.

a source told SaharaReporters.

News Blog - Sahara Reporters

Atiku clowns


Face your region for once, open thread about Bokoharam, banditry, Fulani herdsmen that have ravaged the North and killing people in the south. Expose them, your traditional leaders and Indigenes collaborating with bandits, create a thread on how Al-majiris can be taken off the streets, how the North can catch up with the south. Help yourselves for once. Don't only devote your life worshipping Atiku and scavenging Twitter for gossips or poke nosing into southern affairs. You opened numerous threads attacking igbos during Buhari's Administration, stop being double faced.

And this goes to your fellow Atikuloosers as well ;

LazyNGyouth:

NdiLucifer:

Heavens1stson:

NdiLucifer:
...

FuckFuckPastor:

COFFINSELLER:

FuglyGurl:

APCNGN:

SATANICALLY666:

They should just leave Wike and Akpabio alone.

When it comes to sharing money, almost all politicians belong to the same party

I remember the mantra of one party then

"Share the money"

Apc don adopt am

Zombies will support these as there family members receive from it... it would ve been beta if Tinubu should give back to d messes see as he dey waste money up n down. I think it would ve been beta if he can reach an agreement wit Dangote with all this our tax money to haste d high cost of things in d market.

Even the legislators are cheap whores

tuoyoojo:
When it comes to sharing money, almost all politicians belong to the same party

I remember the mantra of one party then

"Share the money"

Apc don adopt am

Are you talking to Nigerians or some people from sad waste?

Ikaeniyan0:
O ni agbara. Labour party and PDP lawmakers didn't reject the bribe.

Did you read at all?

H

Zombies are the daftest set of people on earth

See what they are supporting

And some of them are doing prayer point with Ibass not knowing that answer to prayers have been sent to those who are relevant already

Zombies!! Una go pray una neck go long

Ikaeniyan0:
O ni agbara. Labour party and PDP lawmakers didn't reject the bribe.

See mugu

So it's about political party not about the gathering of looters

At least APC was the one that shouted chanji in 2015. How come they are the ones sharing dollars

I hope it's not too late before you receive sense

helinues:
Annoyingly, Pdp, LP lawmakers never rejected the money

See another zombie

APC is sharing money to PDP and LP

But your problem is PDP and LP not APC

APC needs mugu like you to continue defending them for crumbs