“Amb Damagun Is Very, Very Corrupt, A Tax Collector, I Dare Him To Sue Me” – Wike

By Adesina Soyooye

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has dismissed the (now) factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ambassador Ilya Umar Damagum as a “very corrupt man, and a complete tax collector.”

Wike made the allegation against Damagum, a former political ally for whom he fought to keep in office during an interview Monday with Channels Television.

“Damagum is a

complete political tax collector, very, very corrupt” Wike  said. He also called Damagum a  betrayer, and asked him to sue for defamation

In an “exchange” with  Seun Okinbaloye, the host of Politics Today, Wike dismissed the PDP as a party riddled with “impunity” and financial impropriety.

When asked why he fought for the elevation of Damagum from an acting position to a substantive, Wike said it was to honor a zoning agreement among PDP governors.

However, Wike turned round to accuse Damagum of alleged betrayal and greed.

Wike: “You see, as a tax collector he will always be.

“He doesn’t need to work with FIRS; complete political tax collector.  “Very, very corrup. Let him go to court and sue me and say, ‘Look, this is what he said about me.’ He knows he cannot.”

The Minister said he has evidence of Damagum’s misconduct, including taking “money in Lagos” and ignoring legal advice on party procedure. He was, however, not specific, and took refuge  by saying:

“We are not a court of law. I know what I’m saying is correct. Nobody can dispute it.”