Kidnap ransom scandal: I’ve never seen N1billion cash in my life – Ndume

The lawmaker representing Borno South Senatorial District, Ali Ndume, says he has never in his life seen N1billion cash.

Ndume made this known on Friday when he appeared as a guest in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

He was responding to kidnap intermediary allegation leveled against him for by one Samaila Kaigame, the purported leader of Borno South Youth Alliance.

The longest-serving lawmaker at the red chamber of the National Assembly denied the accusations of receiving ransom money.

“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen N1billion cash, not to talk of N5billion.

“After Kaigame came to make those claims on the television, I quickly spoke with the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, DSS, on the matter.

“I told them that there is need to bring us and hear him out as he said he wants to be heard, so that he will have the opportunity to prove all these his allegations.

“And the government should take this matter very seriously because it borders on national security. It’s very dangerous. This has to do with international security because ISWAP and all these terrorist organizations are involved.

“So after he started bothering me about personal contribution to ransom payment, I told him that I do not support negotiation with Boko Haram, not to talk of paying ransom. I think that’s where the problem started.

“He started issuing out all these uncoordinated and contradictory statements about my involvement and the likes,” Ndume said.