Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes Rep. Jagaba Adams Jagaba has denied media reports suggesting that he was invited by the police over alleged $620,000 subsidy bribe.

Oil baron Femi Otedola has admitted to giving the embattled former chairman of the House ad hoc committee on subsidy probe, Rep. Farouk Lawan (PDP, Kano), the sum of $620,000 in what he called "sting operation" with the help of security agencies.

Lawan had in publications in some national newspapers said he had handed over the money to Jagaba because he collected it as "exhibit and evidence" to be used against Otedola for attempting to induce him.

However, speaking to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, Jagaba said, "I have never received any invitation from the police contrary to newspaper reports that I was invited and I refused to appear.

"To put the record straight, neither my office in the National Assembly, nor that in my constituency is in receipt of the said letter purportedly written to me by Farouk," he said.

Jagaba had in a reply to a request for the bribe money from the police headquarters as forwarded to him by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said: "I wish to categorically and unequivocally state that there was never a time I was in possession of the sum of $620,000 or any other exhibits (in my personal capacity or official capacity as chairman of the House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes) relating to the subject matter."