Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has dismissed allegations that he received ransom money or served as a go-between in negotiations between kidnappers and the government, insisting he has never handled N1 billion in cash.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Friday, Ndume described the claims as false while responding to allegations made by the president of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, over the abduction of residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
“I have said it before. In my entire life, I have never seen N1 billion in cash, let alone N5 billion,” the senator said.
Ndume maintained that he neither negotiated with terrorists nor facilitated any ransom payment, explaining that his only involvement was reporting the matter to security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a N5 billion ransom.
According to him, he immediately contacted the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS), urging them to invite Kaigama to substantiate his allegations.
