April 06, 2005
Senate chief quits in bribe scandal
From Jonathan Clayton in Johannesburg
NIGERIAN politicians, among the most loquacious in the world, were left speechless yesterday when the President of the Senate — the country’s third most powerful man — was forced to resign for his alleged role in a bribery scandal.
Adolphus Wabara became the latest casualty of President Obasanjo’s anti-corruption drive after he was accused of accepting about £220,000 to pass a deliberately inflated education budget.
Mr Wabera’s resignation came less than a day after Tafa Balogun, the former Inspector General of the Police, was marched into court in handcuffs to answer a £55 million embezzlement charge.
“It is my wish and my wish alone to voluntarily step aside as President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to preserve the sanctity of that office and to be able to attend to those allegations. I shall be vindicated,” Mr Wabara said.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1556631,00.html