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<p>Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has addressed allegations surrounding the distribution of $5,000 to members of his committee. Betara clarified that the funds were shared as a gesture of goodwill to mark the Sallah celebrations and not as a bribe to influence decisions regarding the proposed emergency rule in Rivers State.</p><div class="ANi4MER2" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>The controversy arose after Nigerian investigative journalist Jaafar Jaafar brought the matter to public attention through a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. Jaafar’s revelation sparked widespread speculation about the intent behind the monetary distribution, with some questioning whether it was an attempt to sway opinions within the committee.</p>
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<p>In his statement, Betara firmly denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that the funds were purely a festive token. “The $5,000 I shared with my colleagues was a Sallah gift, a tradition of goodwill and celebration during this festive period. It was not, and should not be misconstrued as, an inducement related to the Rivers State emergency rule discussions,” he stated.</p>
<p>The Rivers State emergency rule proposal has been a contentious issue, drawing significant attention and debate within the House of Representatives. Betara’s clarification aims to dispel any doubts about the integrity of his actions and the committee’s deliberations.</p><div class="pZyhHVst" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>As the story continues to unfold, Nigerians are closely watching the developments, with many calling for transparency and accountability in the nation’s legislative processes.</p>
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