Richard Ginika Izuora
The co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, has expressed dismay with media reports that he offered a $10 million bribe to the leadership and members of the House of Representatives; to hasten the process of passing the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020.
This was in the aftermath of investigations by the Adhoc committee regarding allegations levelled by the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere.
Ugochinyere had on May 4, 2020, issued a press statement in which he alleged that the House and its leadership had received a financial inducement to the tune of $10 million to rush the passage of the bill.
Bill Gates who was represented by the Country Representative of his Foundation; Dr. Pauliu Basinga said there was no interaction whatsoever between himself or his Foundation and the House.
Bill Gates made this clarification before the House Adhoc Committee on Monday, May 18.
“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently been made aware of an allegation circulating in certain elements of the Nigerian media that the Foundation was involved in a payment purportedly made to the Nigeria House of Representatives. Any such allegations are entirely false and without merit.
“To be clear, the Foundation has not offered any financial incentives to any member of Nigeria’s legislative branch for the passage of legislation nor has it offered any grants to organisations in Nigeria; in connection with the same,” Dr. Basinga said.
However, appearing before the panel on Monday; instead of Ugochinyere, was Barr. Tochukwu Uhazurike, a legal Representative to the CUPP spokesman.
Uhazurike told the panel that his client didn’t come to the hearing because; he had filed a lawsuit challenging the legal ground of the committee to summon him for investigation.
He added that “in line with the principles of natural justice, the speaker cannot be a judge in his own case”.
But the committee chairman, Rep. Henry Nwawuba, (PDP, Imo), told the lawyer that the committee invited Ugochinyere and not his lawyer; as he personally made the allegation and not through any lawyer.
As a result, the lawmakers said they cannot allow any lawyer or legal representative to speak to them on his behalf, insisting that the man who alleged must come forward to prove his allegation.
Nwawuba said, “What we do here is constitutional, and just like the procedures read out to you; he must be here present, accompanied by you, if he so wishes.
“But we won’t listen to you on this matter; so you tell your principal to make himself available by Thursday, failure of which we are will turn in our recommendation to the House”.