Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has denied a report that he flew 300 guests to Dubai for his mother’s birthday using public funds.
The speaker’s explanation came in a terse Tuesday statement signed by his media aide, Lanre Lasisi.
He said that a Monday report by Sahara Reporters accusing him of doing so is “categorically false”.
The online newspaper reported, quoting an unnamed member of the birthday planning committee, that the lawmaker planned to spend N500 million on the eight-day event. Some of those to be invited, the paper reported, are Gbajabiamila’s powerful politician friends.
But in the statement, the lawmaker said his mother’s 90th birthday celebration in Dubai was strictly for family members and a few childhood friends and no politician was invited.
“The story carried by Sahara Reporters on Monday, March 2, 2020, alleging that the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila used public funds to take 300 guests to Dubai for his mother’s birthday is categorically false.
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“The Speaker, his family and a few friends were in Dubai to celebrate the 90th birthday anniversary of Alhaja Lateefat Olufunke Gbajabiamila, the Speaker’s mother.
“For the records, this event was strictly for family members and a few childhood friends for which no public funds were appropriated or expended.
“Indeed not a single politician or a legislator was present at the event,” the statement read.
The Herald can report that Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase on Tuesday presided over plenary, which has been suspended for two weeks due to coronavirus.