Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, is demanding a transparent investigation after claiming his signature was forged on a document backing Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere for minority leader.
The drama started Wednesday when opposition lawmakers nominated Ugochinyere of Ideato North/Ideato South to replace Kingsley Chinda, who left the role after becoming APC’s Rivers governorship candidate.
By Thursday’s plenary, Agbese, a Labour Party lawmaker, denied backing Ugochinyere. He said his signature on the endorsement paper was forged. Ugochinyere, the APP rep and chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), fired back, calling it an “outrageous lie” and released CCTV footage that he says shows Agbese signing in his office.
Agbese pushed back again Friday. He admitted signing a document for Ugochinyere, but said it was for a different purpose. Using it to endorse him as minority leader was “unauthorised” and amounts to forgery, he argued.
“I will keep signing official documents for my legislative duties, but I won’t let my signature be used for anything criminal,” Agbese said. He pointed to “visible desperation” to get his signature and cited reports that Ugochinyere allegedly bribed members to sign.
He added he’s ready to appear before any House committee for a full review, and urged Nigerians to let due process run its course for the sake of the minority caucus’ integrity.
Ugochinyere hasn’t responded to the latest allegations as of Friday afternoon.
