American billionaire, and co-founder of Microsoft, Mr. Bill Gates, has described as spurious, media reports that he offered a $10 million incentive (bribe) to the leadership and
members of the House of Representatives to hasting the process of passing the Control of Infectious Diseases Bill, 2020 being considered by the House.
This was as the Adhoc committee investigating the allegation has given the spokesman of the Coalition of United Political Parties, (CUPP), Ikenga Ugochinyere, till Thursday to appear before it with evidence of inducement as alleged by him or face parliamentary contempt.
Ugochinyere, had on May 4, 2020 issued a press statement in which he alleged that the House and its leadership had recieved financial inducement to the tune of $10 million to rush the passage of the bill.
But speaking through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation before the House Adhoc Committee on Monday, the businessman cum philanthropist who was represented by the country Representative of his Foundation, Dr. Pauliu Basinga said there was no interraction whatsoever between himself or his Foundation and the House.
“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has recently been made aware of an allegation circulating in certain elements of the Nigerian media that the Foundation was involved in a payment purportedly made to the Nigeria House of Representatives. Any such allegations are entirely false and without merit.
“To be clear, the Foundation has not offered any financial incentives to any member of Nigeria’s legislative branch for the passage of legislation nor has it offered any grants to organisations in Nigeria in connection with the same. The Foundation adheres to strict ethical and legal guidelines across all areas of its operations”, Dr. Basinga said.
Originally posted on August 11, 2020 @ 1:42 pm
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