'I was not convicted in the US' - Gbajabiamila defends self, threatens to sue CUPP, others -

Femi Gbajabiamila, the embattled Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and candidate for the position of the Speaker in the 9th National Assembly has said he was convicted by a court in the United States of America.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had on Wednesday sued Gbajabiamila for alleged perjury. He was said to have been involved in an insurance-related crime in the US.

But the Majority Leader has threatened to take legal action regarding the story.

The Director-General of Femi/Wase Campaign, Jibril Abdulmumin, who spoke on Gbajaamila’s behalf at a press conference in Abuja.

He said Gbajabiamila had never been accused of corruption and had no corruption case in Nigeria or anywhere in the world, and that he did not commit perjury in Nigeria or any other country.

He said: “For the benefit of doubt, we wish to once again state emphatically clear that Hon Femi Gbajabiamila has never been convicted for any crime in the United States of America, Nigeria or any other country around the world for that matter.

“He has never been accused of corruption and has no corruption case hanging on his neck in Nigeria or any where around the world. He has not committed perjury and has never committed perjury in Nigeria or any country of the world. He was eligible to contest in all previous elections he won and indeed eligible and qualified to contest for the office of Speaker House of Representatives in the 9th Assembly.”

“Agents of destabilization who want to see the National Assembly constantly in crisis and at war with other arms of government will fail. Nigerians are tired of seeing such fights. Nigerians want to see governance, peace and sustainable development. That is the cardinal point of Hon Femi. That is the Speaker we offer to Nigeria,” Abdulmumin added.

Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it was not aware of any case against Gbajabiamila in the US or whether the lawmaker lied.

Speaking to SaharaReporters on the allegations, the Chief Press Secretary of INEC, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, said: “INEC is not aware of any evidence of Gbajabiamila’s alleged conviction in the US.”