Senator Ndume Rejects N5bn Ransom Accusation, Denies Meeting Kaigama
Senator Ali Ndume has denied claims that he was linked to terrorists through an alleged middleman. Ndume said he never met Samaila Kaigama and never received any ransom money of ₦5 billion.
The senator said on Channels Television’s Politics Today that he had no business with terrorists and had severed contact with Kaigama after he became suspicious of him, adding that he only spoke with the suspect on the phone.
“I haven’t met him. “I spoke to him several times before I cut off contact after I became suspicious of him,” Ndume said.
The ex-Senate Chief Whip said he had no personal links with Kaigama and denied any involvement in facilitating negotiations or maintaining connections with terrorist groups.
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Ndume denied allegations that he collected ₦5 billion in ransom payments saying the charge was 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 allegations against me are baseless and I have never been involved in collecting or receiving ransom for criminal or terrorist groups,” the Borno South legislator insisted.
Ndume’s remarks follow accusations by Samaila Kaigama who alleged that the senator was an intermediary to terrorists and profiting from ransom payments, allegations Ndume has vehemently denied.
