The Senate, yesterday, denied knowledge of the allegation of N68 million illegal transaction linked to the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory, Ireti Kingibe.

A Nigerian businessman, Nonso Okafor, claimed that in October 2024, he was persuaded by a Senior Legislative Aide to the lawmaker, Osereme Christen Omofoma, to raise $100,000, with the assurance that the money would be refunded or compensated through the award of Federal Government contracts.

Okafor had, through his lawyer, Elochukwu Obi, petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the lawmaker.

Although Senator Kingibe dismissed the story as false, describing the allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to tarnish her reputation, the businessman maintained that his allegations remain factual.

But speaking with our reporter yesterday, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu, said the upper legislative chamber was unaware of the matter.

According to him, the legislative body does not probe into the ‘personal engagement’ of lawmakers, stressing that their duties revolve around lawmaking, oversight and representation.

“We don’t have such a case before us. We are not aware of that. We don’t probe into the personal engagement of senators outside the chambers and the National Assembly,” Adaramodu said in a telephone interview.

On claims that the lawmaker may have abused his office, Adaramodu said: “That’s just an allegation. We don’t have a case like this before us. We can only talk of what is before us. We are concerned about any matter that involves lawmaking, oversight and representation.”

The businessman had urged the ICPC to investigate the lawmaker in relation to the petition already submitted to it.

Okafor had, in an April 27 petitioned the anti-graft agency through his lawyer, Elochukwu Obi, claiming that he was persuaded in October 2024 by a Senior Legislative Aide to the lawmaker identified as Osereme Christen Omofoma to raise $100,000, assuring that the money would either be refunded or compensated through the award of Federal Government contracts.