Lawmakers reject alleged $1m bribe to impeach Governor

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan disclosed this at a press conference today, March 8.

READ: 'APC plotting to take Ekiti, Rivers, Bayelsa from PDP,' Fayose alleges

"In the last four days, eight of our members had been visited by some men, who claimed to be officials of the DSS," Aribisogan said.

"Our members were told that their names were among those to be arrested and they must 'cooperate' if they do not want their bank accounts frozen and be kept in DSS detention indefinitely,""We are here to inform the public through your various medium the open involvement of men of the Department of State Service (DSS) from Abuja in the plot to unseat our State Governor, Mr Peter Ayodele Fayose.

"The last Friday invasion of the State House of Assembly by armed men of the DSS in which four of our members were abducted, has been established to be a prelude to the clandestine plot to coerce members of the House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fayose."As at today, even Hon Afolabi Akanni that we were able to confirm was with the DSS in Abuja is being held incommunicado. No one has been given access to him, not even his lawyers and doctors. We do not have any information as to the whereabouts of the other three."We are aware of the plot to arrest no fewer than 18 of our members with a view to forcing them to sign impeachment notice against Governor Fayose.

"The plot is being hatched by the same elements who masterminded the impeachment of Governor Fayose in 2006, which was eventually declared illegal by the Supreme Court and they are boasting of support of the DSS and the Presidency.

"In the last four days, eight of our member had been visited by some men, who claimed to be officials of the DSS. Our members were told that their names were among those to be arrested and they must “cooperate” if they do not want their bank accounts frozen and be kept in DSS detention indefinitely. "They went on to promise that proper arrangement had been made for the impeachment of the governor, with a sum of $1 million already earmarked for sharing among “cooperating” assembly members.

"Also, our members were told that they will be provided with soft-landing in the APC if they cooperate. One of them revealed that they promised to make him the Speaker, and eventually the Acting Governor," he said.

Fayose had from the state , saying they have overstepped their constitutional boundaries.