Mr Yakubu Dogara, Former Speaker House of Representatives

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, said only a fool will link people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture with a suspected fraudster.

Dogara of the Peoples Democratic Party, who is still a member of the House, made the comments in reaction to an APC statement, signed by its Deputy Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena.

In the statement, APC demanded the probe of some PDP leaders, including the immediate past President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; former Vice-President and PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar; and Senator Dino Melaye, among others, over their alleged romance with cyber-crime suspect, Ramon Abbas aka Hushpuppi.

Dogara, however, reacted to the allegation in a statement issued by his media aide, Turaki Hassan, entitled ‘The Fatuous and Infantile Statement by the Smellfungus Called Yekini Nabena’.

He challenged the All Progressives Congress to establish the link between himself and suspected international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi.

Dogara said he is ready to be jailed if APC establishes any form of links or connection between him and the alleged fraudster.

Dogara also argued that APC leaders had also taken photographs with another Dubai-based Instagram celebrity, Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, who the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is currently prosecuting over alleged fraud, money laundering and running a foreign exchange business without the authorization of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Dogara, through Hassan, said: “This smellfungus called Nabena should have known that it is share mindlessness to attempt to execute mischief and blackmail in plain sight before the public some of whom are better informed. Who is that fool that links people to criminal activity simply because they appeared in a group picture at a public event comprising of people from different walks of life?

“If appearing in a group photograph is what Nabena is now using to establish a link or connection to crimes or alleged criminals, then, why didn’t he issue such a statement in the wake of the arrest of a suspected money launderer by name Ismaila Mustapha, aka Mompha, whose pictures with notable personalities including some APC governors are all over the social media? Is Nabena guilty of selective amnesia or share perfidy? Who is Nabena scared of? Who is he trying to fool?”

He added, “For the records, Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara has agreed to waive his right to a trial and go to jail if Nabena establishes any form of links or connection between him and the alleged cybercriminal before the event where the picture was taken and after the event until now. For Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara, that picture was just another picture among the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of such pictures with Nigerians from all walks of life.

“If the said Nabena is worth his salt, next time he speaks, he should speak to issues affecting the welfare of our union, which are well known to all discerning Nigerians. Nabena should or ought to know that there is no honour in speaking about group pictures taken at public events when the nation is bleeding and most Nigerian families are struggling and hurting.”