Emergency Rule: I Did Not Partake In Distribution Of $10,000 To Senators By Akpabio  — Umeh

Senator Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), has debunked insinuations that he was part of the Senators that distributed some thousands of dollars to senators to support the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Senator Umeh also said that he was not among the 42 senators who allegedly collected $10,000 the previous day before the senators voted in favour of the State of Emergency in the Oil rich State.

In a statement, Umeh said he couldn’t have received any money to support the approval of the State of Emergency in Rivers State, stressing that he was not present at the meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 2025 where $10,000 was allegedly given to 42 Senators, let alone being one of the key figures that organized the event.

In the words of Umeh; “I did not receive any money to support the approval of the State of Emergency in Rivers State. I was not at any meeting where such payments were allegedly made.”

Umeh, who is the Senate Committee Chairman on Population and National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), explained that on the evening of Tuesday, he attended the traditional IFTAR (breaking of fast) at the Senate President’s Guest House with Muslim brothers and Sisters, where he was asked to say the Christian Prayers after Senator Adamu Aliero said the Muslim Prayers after the IFTAR.

He further said; “We did not discuss the State of Emergency in Rivers State at the IFTAR. There were other Labour Party Senators at the IFTAR. Detractors only want to create disaffection between me and my people and also impugn my reputation.

Umeh particularly described the story linking him to the collection of $10 dollars as blackmail, stressing that it did not represent the truth, adding that he would not be distracted from providing good representation.

There were insinuations making the rounds that Senators collected bribes of $10,000 to approve President Tinubu’s proclamation of State of Emergency and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi, his deputy and members of the State Assembly for six months.

It was also alleged that Senator Umeh was one of the senators that allegedly disbursed the money to other legislators at the private lodge of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio in Abuja.