Senator Ali Ndume has dismissed allegations that he is linked to terrorists through a supposed middleman, saying he never met Samaila Kaigama and never received any ransom money of ₦5 billion.
The senator, who spoke on Politics Today on Channels Television, dismissed claims that he acted as an intermediary for terrorists, saying his interactions with Kaigama were limited to telephone conversations before he severed contact after becoming suspicious of him.
“I have not met him. “I talked to him several times before I cut off contact after I started to be suspicious of him,” Ndume said.
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The former Senate Chief Whip insisted that he had no personal ties with Kaigama and dismissed any claims that he had facilitated negotiations or maintained links with terrorist groups.
Ndume also dismissed allegations he received ₦5 billion in ransom payments, calling the accusation false.
“I have said it already in my life I have never seen ₦1 billion cash, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” he said.
The Borno South lawmaker maintained that the allegations against him were unfounded and reiterated that he had never been involved in collecting or receiving ransom on behalf of criminal or terrorist groups.
Ndume’s comments come after allegations by Samaila Kaigama who accused the senator of being an intermediary to terrorists and profiting from ransom payments, accusations Ndume has vehemently denied.