Former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Farouq Aliyu, has alleged that he was offered ₦250 million to support former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s controversial third-term agenda, but rejected the money.

Aliyu made the disclosure during an appearance on the Naija Unfiltered podcast, published on YouTube on Friday, September 18, 2026.

The former lawmaker also claimed that other senior members of the National Assembly were offered substantial sums to support the proposed constitutional amendment, which would have allowed Obasanjo to seek a third consecutive presidential term.

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According to Aliyu, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Masari and former Majority Leader Abdul Ningi were each allegedly offered ₦400 million.

His claims revive debate over one of the most contentious political episodes of Obasanjo’s administration, which lasted from 1999 to 2007.

 Farouq Aliyu Recounts Alleged ₦250m Offer

Speaking during the podcast, Aliyu insisted that the third-term agenda was real, despite Obasanjo’s repeated denials that he sought to remain in office beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms.

Aliyu said the then Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, contacted him during discussions surrounding the proposed constitutional amendment.

According to the former lawmaker, Ribadu invited him to Abuja for a meeting with Obasanjo. Aliyu said he initially declined the invitation but later agreed to meet the former president.

He claimed that during the meeting, he discussed the third-term proposal and made it clear that he believed the plan would not succeed.

Aliyu further alleged that Ribadu subsequently directed him to meet another individual, who allegedly offered him ₦250 million to support the agenda.

He did not identify the person who allegedly made the offer.

“Third term agenda was real. In fact, they offered me ₦250 million. I did not take it,” Aliyu said.

The allegation has not been independently established in the account of the interview. Aliyu’s comments represent his recollection of events surrounding the political controversy.

Aliyu Claims Masari, Ningi Also Rejected Offers

Aliyu further alleged that the effort to secure lawmakers’ backing involved offers to prominent members of the House of Representatives.

He claimed that Masari, who was Speaker at the time, was offered ₦400 million, while Ningi, then the Majority Leader, was allegedly offered the same amount.

“Masari, who was the speaker then, ₦400 million was offered. He did not take it. Abdul Ningi, the majority leader, ₦400 million naira was offered to him. He did not take it,” Aliyu said.

The former minority leader also alleged that lawmakers he described as less influential were offered smaller sums, claiming that the minimum offer was ₦50 million.

“₦50 million was dashed to small fries. They paid a minimum of ₦50 million,” he said.

The reported payments remain allegations made by Aliyu. The account does not independently verify whether the offers occurred or establish the identities of those allegedly involved.

National Assembly Rejected Third-Term Amendment in 2006

The third-term proposal became a major political dispute during Obasanjo’s second tenure. In May 2006, the National Assembly rejected proposed constitutional amendments that could have enabled him to contest for a third consecutive term.

Obasanjo, who served as president from 1999 to 2007, has repeatedly denied seeking a third term. In September 2025, he again said he had not pursued such an ambition.

Aliyu, however, maintained during the podcast that efforts to secure support for the proposal took place. He also credited former military Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and then Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume with playing roles in opposing the agenda.

The proposed amendment ultimately failed in the National Assembly in 2006, and Obasanjo left office in 2007 at the end of his second term.

Aliyu’s latest account adds to the public discussion of the episode, though the specific allegations of financial inducements remain attributed to him and have not been independently confirmed in the material available.