Farouq Aliyu Says He Rejected N250m Bribe Over Obasanjo’s Third-Term Bid

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former House of Representatives Minority Leader, Farouq Aliyu, has alleged that he was offered N250 million to support former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial bid for a third term in office.

Aliyu made the claim during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published on YouTube on Friday.

The former lawmaker said the third-term agenda was genuine, despite Obasanjo’s repeated denials that he ever sought to extend his presidency beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms.

Obasanjo served as Nigeria’s president between 1999 and 2007. In May 2006, the National Assembly rejected a constitutional amendment bill that would have paved the way for him to seek a third consecutive term.

Obasanjo again denied pursuing such an ambition in September 2025, saying he would have known how to pursue it if he had wanted another term.

However, Aliyu said he was approached during the period of the third-term controversy after Nuhu Ribadu, who was then chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asked him to travel to Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo.

According to him, he initially declined Ribadu’s request but later agreed to meet the former president.

Aliyu said he made it clear during the meeting that he believed the third-term proposal would not succeed.

He further alleged that he was later offered N250 million by an unnamed individual whom Ribadu had directed him to meet.

The former lawmaker also claimed that other prominent politicians were offered substantial sums to support the proposal.

He said Aminu Masari, who was Speaker of the House of Representatives at the time, rejected an alleged N400 million offer, while Abdul Ningi, who served as majority leader, was also offered the same amount.

Aliyu said lawmakers considered less influential were allegedly offered at least N50 million.

“Third term agenda was real. In fact, 250 million was given to me. I did not take it,” he said.

“Masari, who was the speaker then, 400 million was offered. He did not take it. Abdul Ningi, the majority leader, 400 million naira was offered to him. He did not take it.

“N50 million was dashed to small fries. They paid minimum of N50 million.”

Aliyu also credited late former President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and George Akume, who was Secretary to the Government of the Federation, with playing significant roles in efforts that ultimately stopped the third-term proposal.

The 2006 constitutional amendment attempt failed to secure the required legislative approval, effectively ending the bid to alter the constitutional term limit at the time.