By Tom Ashby
Lagos - Nigeria's anti-fraud squad launched a probe on Monday into allegations lawmakers have been bribed to change the constitution to allow President Olusegun Obasanjo to extend his hold on power.
The investigation comes days before a vote on the bill to amend the constitution in the Senate, which is likely to go against extending the presidential tenure to three terms.
"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has commenced the investigation of recent allegations of bribery in the National Assembly," the agency said in a press statement.
'Athird of senators have already said they will vote against a third term' Lawmakers were originally offered 50-million naira (about R2,3-million ) to support a third term for Obasanjo, opposition members said.
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A National Assembly source told Reuters on Sunday the offer had now been raised to 200-million naira and above for key opponents.
A presidency spokesperson denied offering bribes.
"The president is not a bribe giver, neither does he condone any form of corruption," said Femi Fani Kayode.
Any amendment to Nigeria's 1999 charter requires a two-thirds majority in both houses, and more than a third of senators have already said they will vote against a third term.
Newspapers have published details of banks in the capital Abuja where they said the bribe money was deposited. They also reported licence plate numbers of vehicles belonging to people they identified as presidential aides overseeing the payout.
"The investigation poses enormous challenges and the commission can only make reasonable progress if provided with sufficient information and evidence by members of the public," the agency said.
The probe came after presidency officials raided the offices of a privately owned television network on Sunday and seized the master copy of a documentary on Nigeria's history of dictators who have tried and failed to prolong their rules.
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