Nigeria, March 22 -- The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has said senators did not receive a bribe of $15,000 each to approve the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Mr Akpabio said this in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Eseme Eyiboh, on Saturday.

The senate president said the claim that the lawmakers were bribed to approve the emergency rule was orchestrated by people who intended to blackmail them.

Mr Akpabio's comment was in reaction to an exclusive report by Sahara Reporter on Thursday that 45 senators were offered $5,000 each on Tuesday night while 42 of them were given $10,000 each on Wednesday night, the day before the National Assembly voted on the emergency rule proclamation.

According to the rep...