‘I’ve never seen N1bn cash, let alone N5bn’, says Ndume, denies ransom allegations

Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume, has dismissed allegations that he received ransom money or served as a go-between in negotiations between kidnappers and the government, insisting he has never handled N1 billion in cash.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Friday, Ndume described the claims as false while responding to allegations made by the president of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, over the abduction of residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.

“I have said it before. In my entire life, I have never seen N1 billion in cash, let alone N5 billion,” the senator said.

Ndume maintained that he neither negotiated with terrorists nor facilitated any ransom payment, explaining that his only involvement was reporting the matter to security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a N5 billion ransom.

According to him, he immediately contacted the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS), urging them to invite Kaigama to substantiate his allegations.

“I told them that there is need to bring us and hear him out as he said he wants to be heard, so that he will have the opportunity to prove all these his allegations.

“And the government should take this matter very seriously because it borders on national security. It’s very dangerous. This has to do with international security because ISWAP and all these terrorist organizations are involved.

The lawmaker said his relationship with Kaigama deteriorated after he refused suggestions that ransom should be paid to secure the victims’ release.

“So after he started bothering me about personal contribution to ransom payment, I told him that I do not support negotiation with Boko Haram, not to talk of paying ransom. I think that’s where the problem started.

“He started issuing out all these uncoordinated and contradictory statements about my involvement and the likes,” Ndume said.

The senator noted that he had earlier rejected the allegations during an interview on ARISE News, stressing that he had never acted, directly or indirectly, as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government or private individuals.

Ndume explained that Kaigama first contacted him after insurgents allegedly abducted hundreds of residents of Ngoshe and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a N5 billion ransom.

He added that he would take legal actions over Kaigama for defamation of character.

He also called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations, arguing that the matter should be treated as a national security concern rather than a personal dispute.