- Ransom: ‘In My Life I Have Never Seen ₦1 Billion’ – Ndume
- Ndume said he only alerted security agencies after learning of ransom demands.
- The lawmaker urged authorities to investigate the claims over national security concerns.
Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has denied allegations linking him to the payment or diversion of ransom allegedly meant to secure the release of abducted residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Ndume, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, said he had never received ransom funds from the government or negotiated ransom payments with terrorists on behalf of any authority.
The former Senate Chief Whip was responding to allegations made by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, who accused him of involvement in ransom negotiations relating to residents abducted from Ngoshe.
Kaigama, during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, claimed that Ndume diverted part of the money allegedly earmarked for securing the release of the abductees.
Rejecting the claims, Ndume described the allegations as an attempt to blackmail him after he refused to provide money for ransom payments.
“I have said it already that in my life, I have never seen ₦1 billion at once in cash, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” Ndume said.
The senator maintained that he had never participated in negotiations with terrorist groups or facilitated the payment of ransom for the release of kidnapped victims.
According to him, his only involvement was alerting relevant security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding ₦5 billion for the release of the captives.
Ndume said the seriousness of the allegation prompted him to immediately contact the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS).
He stated, “After Kaigama came to make those claims on the television, I quickly spoke with the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS) on the matter.
“I told them that there is a need to bring him in and hear him out, as he said he wanted to be heard, so that he will have the opportunity to prove all these allegations.”
The lawmaker insisted that the allegations should not be treated as a political dispute, stressing that claims involving terrorist organisations and billions of naira required a thorough investigation.
“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 organisations are involved,” he said.
Ndume also challenged Kaigama to provide evidence showing how the alleged ₦5 billion ransom was paid, who authorised the payment, and where the funds were transferred.
He questioned whether such a large amount could have been paid without leaving financial records identifying the individuals or institutions involved.
“₦5 billion is not a small figure. If it was not paid in cash, which account was that money paid into? Who was responsible for the payment? Is it the state government, as he is claiming? And if it is so, he (Kaigama) should go and prove to the responsible authorities that this is what happened and why it happened,” Ndume added.
