Nigeria, March 22 -- The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has denied a report that senators received bribe amounting to $15,000 each to approve the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Mr Akpabio said the report was orchestrated by people who intended to blackmail him and other senators.

The senate president debunked the claim in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, on Saturday.

Mr Akpabio's comment was in reaction to a report on social media that senators were offered $5,000 each on Tuesday and an additional $10,000 each on Wednesday, the day before the National Assembly voted on the emergency rule proclamation.

The report also indicated that the senators received the money when they gathered for t...