Kwara State government has debunked allegation that it paid N500 million as legal fee of Mr Kanu Agabi, who is the lead counsel In the trial of senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the state governor on Media and Communication, Dr Muideen Akorede, which was made available to journalists in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the state government described the allegation as mischievous.

The text of the address read thus: We hereby deny allegations by Sahara reporters that the Kwara State government paid a sum of N500 million to Mr Kanu Agabi, the lead counsel in the trial of Dr Saraki, at CCT, Abuja.

The allegation is mischievous and has no basis. In fact, Dr Saraki is perfectly capable of funding his own defense. Also, the state government has no responsibility to fund the legal defense of the senate president or any other individual. Neither does it intend to do so.

Additionally, it is ridiculous to expect a state government that requires N2.4 billion monthly for salaries, pensions, and overheads but received N1.5 billion in allocations last month, for example, to spend any money on the senate president's trial. It is, therefore, impossible for the government to fund the senate president's trial.

We must note that this monthly allocation is augmented with Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and bank loans to meet basic obligations. It is therefore, impossible for the government to fund the senate president's trial.