The former deputy speaker, in a statement by his media consultant, Mr Hilary Kemjika, described the report in a section of media, on July 21, as wicked, malicious, obnoxious, scandalous, unsubstantiated and false. “To add salt to injury, the mendacious and malignant publication said that Honourable Dumba and others admitted collecting the said amount on behalf of the Dass Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders. “The amount mentioned was incredible and extremely shocking. There is no iota or grain of truth in the story. “His political opponents are strenuously at work to tarnish his remarkable image, which he earned over the years before the 2019 general election, fearing his towering political clouts will constitute obstacles for them before 2019,” the statement read. Giving the true picture of what transpired, the media aide, according to the statement, said “prior the 2015 general election, the Bauchi PDP, through Alhaji Garba Dahiru, disbursed N12 million to DASS PDP Local Government Area stakeholders for the success of the party in the general election. “Honourable Saleh Dumba acted as a witness and signatory to the DASS PDP stakeholders before the money could be released from the state party. He did not collect, share or benefit from the money.” The former deputy speaker affirmed that at no point during his invitation and interrogation by EFCC did he admit collecting money for election purposes, adding that the issue of N500 million did not arise. It lamented the damage the publication had caused Honourable Dumba, his political supporters across Nigeria and beyond, while it threatened that the lawmaker would not hesitate to take legal action against anyone dishing out false and malicious publications against his personality.]]>