Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has denied allegations that he received ransom money or acted as an intermediary between kidnappers and the government, insisting he has never seen ₦1 billion in cash in his life.
Ndume made the remarks on Friday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where he responded to allegations by the President of the Borno South Youth Alliance, Samaila Kaigama, linking him to ransom negotiations involving abducted residents of Ngoshe in Borno State.
“I have said it already. In my life, I have never seen ₦1 billion cash, not to talk of ₦5 billion,” the senator said.
He maintained that he had no role in negotiating with terrorists or facilitating ransom payments, stressing that his only involvement was alerting security agencies after Kaigama informed him about a video allegedly released by Boko Haram/ISWAP demanding a ₦5 billion ransom.
“After Kaigama came to make those claims on television, I immediately contacted the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services (DSS),” Ndume said.
“I told them there was a need to invite us and hear him out, so he would have the opportunity to substantiate his allegations.
“The government should take this matter very seriously because it borders on national security. It is very dangerous. This has to do with international security because ISWAP and other terrorist organisations are involved.”
Ndume said his relationship with Kaigama deteriorated after he rejected suggestions that he should contribute money toward a ransom payment or support negotiations with insurgents.
“He kept asking me to make a personal contribution to the ransom, but I told him I do not support negotiating with Boko Haram, let alone paying ransom. I think that is where the problem started.
“After that, he began making these uncoordinated and contradictory statements about my involvement,” he said.
The senator had earlier dismissed the allegations in an interview with ARISE NEWS, insisting he had never acted, directly or indirectly, as an intermediary between kidnappers and either the government or private individuals.
According to Ndume, Kaigama contacted him after insurgents allegedly abducted hundreds of residents of Ngoshe and issued a 72-hour ultimatum demanding a ₦5 billion ransom.
He called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the allegations, describing the matter as one of national security rather than a personal dispute.
