An aide to the Senate President, Dr. Jibril Lawal Tafida, has dismissed a viral document linking him to allegations of corruption in the National Assembly, describing it as a calculated attempt to drag his name, and that of his principal, into a contrived political scandal.
The letter, which surfaced across several social media platforms on Saturday, claimed to be addressed to the Office of the President at Aso Villa.
It accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of corrupt practices and suggested that Tafida had been abandoned by his principal during a personal tragedy. The document was unsigned.
Tafida, who serves as Special Adviser to the Senate President, issued a formal disclaimer dated November 22, stressing that he neither authored nor authorised the contentious material.
He insisted the circulating document was the work of individuals seeking to “weaponise” his name to stir tensions within the Senate’s leadership.
“This publication is not mine in any form,” he stated firmly.
“Whoever crafted it is attempting to twist my identity into a political tool. It is a reckless effort to smear the Senate President and plant disaffection where none exists.”
He argued that the alleged claims collapsed under basic scrutiny, noting that Akpabio is not a member of the National Assembly Tenders Board and therefore has no involvement in contract awards.
Tafida added that facilities within the National Assembly complex are managed entirely by the Federal Capital Development Authority through its contractor, Laralex Nigeria Ltd.
Moreover, he emphasised that his relationship with the Senate President remains cordial and built on trust, explaining that the sentiments expressed in the letter do not reflect his views.
Tafida urged media organisations, political stakeholders, online publishers, and the general public to retract the document wherever it has been circulated.
“Delete it, disregard it, and desist from amplifying it,” he said, warning that continued distribution only fuels misinformation.
He reaffirmed his loyalty to the Senate President and the institution of the Senate, saying he remains committed to supporting the National Assembly’s work in advancing national unity and democratic stability.
AFRIPOST reports that the incident adds to a growing trend of politically motivated misinformation circulating online, particularly around influential public officials.