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.
A National Assembly source told Reuters on Sunday the offer had now been raised to 200-million naira and above for key opponents.
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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.
It showed footage of the leaders of Obasanjo's third term campaign, including ruling party grandees Tony Anenih and Ojo Maduekwe, arguing for the elongation of the corrupt military dictatorship of Sani Abacha.
"They said the documentary was offensive and abusive of Mr President and those involved in government and said we should discontinue it immediately," African Independent Television Chairman Raymond Dokpesi told Reuters.
Dokpesi sat on a chair outside his Abuja office on Monday, explaining to journalists that he had received a bomb threat and wanted to see who was approaching.
Obasanjo, a former military ruler, returned to power in 1999 elections that restored democracy to Africa's most populous nation after three decades of almost uninterrupted dictatorship.
Elections next year should mark the first time in Nigerian history that a civilian president hands over to another through elections, but the third term campaign has jeopardised that.
The bribery scandal has tainted the image of Obasanjo's government, which only last year obtained $18-billion debt relief from rich Western creditors partly on the basis of a high-profile campaign against corruption.
Obasanjo's third term campaign reinforces a trend across Africa of a "new breed" of leaders, including in Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia, who have failed to live up to promises to improve democracy and freedoms, analysts say.
Supporters of the third term argue that it would allow Obasanjo to consolidate his liberal economic reforms.
Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has publicly split from his boss over the amendment, and accused Obasanjo of trying to subvert democracy against the popular will.
The United States has urged Obasanjo not to go ahead with the amendment, predicting major turmoil and conflict if it goes through. Britain has said it would not accept the result of any amendment process that was not free and fair.
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