The lawmaker representing Borno South at the national assembly, Senator Ali Ndume has debunked allegations that he participated in ransom negotiations or handled payments for the release of kidnapping victims, describing the claims as unfounded.
He was responding to accusations made by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama.
Ndume addressed the allegations on Friday when he appeared on Channels Television.
Kaigama had alleged that the senator played a role in negotiations surrounding the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
Dismissing the accusation, Ndume insisted he had never received or handled any ransom money and had no involvement in discussions between kidnappers and government officials.
“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen ₦1 billion cash, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” the senator said.
Explaining his involvement in the matter, Ndume said he only alerted security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a ₦5 billion ransom for the abducted victims.
He maintained that beyond notifying the appropriate authorities, he neither engaged with the terrorists nor took part in any arrangement involving ransom payments.
