From Ahamefula Ogbu in Abuja, 03.31.2005

President Olusegun Obasanjo, acting on the report of an EFCC investigation, had in his broadcast on the scandal Tuesday last week indicted Chairman House Committee on Appro-priations, Hon. Gabriel Suswam, Chairman Committee on Education, Hon. Garba Shehu Matazu and Chairman House Committee on Housing, Hon. Osita Izunaso of collecting N10 million bribe from Njoku during the 2004 budgeting process.
Njoku yesterday, however, denied giving bribe to any of the lawmakers, saying that his alleged involvement in the scandal was as confusing as it was surprising to him.
"I was invited by the EFCC and when I went there, they asked me if I gave bribe to the lawmakers to increase my budget in 2004 by N150 million and I said no. They asked me to write my statement, which I agreed to. They at a stage started to dictate to me what to write and I refused to write that. Later they brought a statement and forced me to sign.
"Finding myself in such a situation was a harrowing experience. The last place I expected myself was the EFCC. Given my training and experience as an academician, I was hysterical and out of control. I was so devastated as EFCC was supposed to investigate people on financial crimes and I became afraid. I asked myself what I had to do with such an organisation," he said.
Asked when he was invited by the EFCC, he said it was sometime between late January and early February, adding that he was so traumatised by the experience that he found it difficult to coordinate himself.
Asked if he gave any bribe to Suswam, Izunaso or Matazu, he replied in the negative, saying that he had only met Suswam once and may not be able to identify him if he sees him now.
He said he does not know Izunaso and could not have offered him bribe but admitted knowing Matazu who he said invited all the Vice Chancellors in the federation for the usual meetings preceding their budget defences.
According to him, he had in 2002, written a letter to the Senate President, House Speaker and some members of both chambers especially in Appropriation Committee to seek their understanding in approving enough funds for personnel cost and other monies for the opening of new departments and courses.
He said it was in the course of distributing the letters and seeking for the assistance of the lawmakers that he met Suswam.
Asked why he did not address the press immediately after leaving the EFCC to the effect that he was forced to sign a document he did not author, he said that as a civil servant who should not talk to the press, it did not occur to him that was the right step to take.
On how he felt now that his name was linked to bribery, he replied, "I feel devastated, debased and very very sad. It is very unfortunate, coming just three months after I was named the best Vice Chancellor in the country. I feel something is behind it; there is a deliberate attempt to destroy me. I must tell you that I was thoroughly devastated and I have not been able to eat properly since that day."
On whether he was aware that his budget was increased by N150 million for which he was alleged to have given N10 million to the lawmakers, he said he was not aware as all he got was the budget he asked for.
On whether he was given a copy of the document he said he was forced to sign by the EFCC, he answered in the negative, "If taken unawares even when you are at your best, you can act like the most stupid man.”
Izunaso, Suswam and Matazu had earlier denied collecting bribe from the Vice Chancellor. Suswam in his testimony said that he never met Njoku in the course of appropriations work.
Suswam said that even the report of the EFCC was not dated and had a different kind of presentation from the one signed by the commission's chairman, Alhaji Nuhu Ribadu.
He said though the report stated that investigation was yet to be concluded, the President went ahead to make conclusive statements in his broadcast by portraying him as having collected bribe.
Izunaso also washed his hands off anything concerning the issue. Matazu, however, admitted knowing Njoku just like every other varsity vice chancellor but denied taking bribe.
On the N55 million bribe allegedly collected from sacked Education Minister, Professor Fabian Osuji, Matazu said the only interaction that came close to what the President alleged in his broadcast was when members of his committee were invited to a dinner after which Osuji said his Finance Director would reach them.
He said that he was later called by the ministry to come and collect the message and he sent the secretary of the committee to collect it, adding, "When it was brought, it was in an envelope and when I opened it, there was N100,000 for me and N50,000 for each member so I returned it to the ministry. I told those who wanted it to go to the ministry and collect it.
He also admitted being invited to a meeting with the minister and the Senate President with some others but denied that he shared from any money that was allegedly given. He swore by Allah that he did not collect any money if the minister gave it.
Matazu said he learnt of the allegation through his wife who cried when he called her from Malaysia where he had gone on official assignment.