Speaker of the house of representative, Hon Yakubu Dogara has denied using tax payers money to fund his trip to Asaba in a private jet.
Sahara Reporters had on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 reported that Hon. Yakubu Dogara traveled to Asaba, in a private jet to commission a church.
The Speaker, while reacting to the reports confirmed that he traveled to Asaba but he did that on his own account. He stated that he rejected a presidential 8 seater plane offered to him because of the size of his entourage.
According to Premium Times, a statement signed the media aide to the speaker, Turaki Hassan, reads; “Attention of the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker Yakubu Dogara has been drawn to a story published by online news portal Sahara Reporters about a private visit to Delta State embarked upon by the Speaker.”
“We wish to state for the records that Hon. Speaker was invited to Delta State by Evang. Hon. Mrs. J.O. Mrakpor representing Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency of Delta State to help commission a church she built.”
“Evang. Mrakpor has in the past built three churches and she just finished building the fourth one in her community in fulfilment of the promise she made to God before the 2015 elections that she will build a church for the community if God gives her victory.”
“Being a private visit, Mr. Speaker in company of some of his colleagues including Muslim members of the House, attended the church service where the new church and not just an ‘altar’ was commissioned and prayers were offered for the restoration of peace in Nigeria.”
“For the record: Mr. Speaker does not own a private jet. Mr. Speaker personally paid for the cost of the trip to Delta State and did not take a single dime from official coffers, being a private visit.”
He called on the media to always confirm facts before publishing.
