I’m ready to reveal names of 419 lawmakers - Aliyu

Taiwo Adisa, Abuja - 29.01.2008

The Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, Senator Nuhu Aliyu, restated in Abuja on Monday that he was ready to disclose the identity of fraudsters in the National Assembly to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Senator Aliyu, who said on the Senate floor last week that fraudsters populate the National Assembly, has been under pressure to reveal the identities of the fraudsters.

The senator, who spoke to newsmen in the Assembly on Monday, said he would only honour the summons of the House if Senate President, Senator David Mark, compels him to do so.

The retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, also stated that he would not reveal the identity of the 419 lawmakers to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Public Petition and Privileges which had been mandated to investigate the allegation.

“Nobody invited me to come here. I was not here when I learnt that a number of you (newsmen) visited me in my office to talk to me about what is going on currently in the National Assembly, especially with regards to my stand on offences related to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), what we used to call 419.

“I repeat, and I repeat it again, I stand by what I said. The only thing you are not going to hear from me is the names you want to know. I will not mention these names you want to know. I will not mention those names.

“I will not provide any name to anybody because it would leak. I was prepared to name names on that day but I have changed my mind. I won’t mention names except to the Senate president or the Speaker of the House of Representatives. If it leaks out, I will know the source,” he said.