C'River Assembly Summons Content Creator Over Alleged False Claims on Lawmakers’ Salaries
By Our Correspondent
The Cross River State House of Assembly has summoned a social media content creator, Ejim John Ogbeche, from Bekwarra Local Government Area, to appear before it and explain a viral video in which he alleged that members of the Assembly, including Hon. Omang Charles Omang (Bekwarra), earn ₦6.8 million monthly in salaries.
The resolution to summon Ogbeche was adopted during plenary following a Matter of Urgent Public Importance raised by Hon. Omang, who decried the video as “false, malicious, and inciting.” He said the publication, which has since circulated widely on social media, was made by Ogbeche—a constituent and native of his own village, Ukpah.
“On the 23rd of May 2025, I woke up to a false and malicious video publication made by one Ejim John Ogbeche, whose Facebook name is Ejim Johnny Agogo, a native of Ukpah, my village,” Hon. Omang told the House. “The video falsely claimed that I earn the sum of ₦6,800,000.00 monthly as a member of this House, excluding constituency and sitting allowances.”
He continued: “This is not only misleading but an attempt to pitch my constituents and the general public against me and this Honourable House. It’s defamatory and an attack on the credibility of this Assembly.”
Other lawmakers echoed his sentiments, describing the viral video as “outright falsehood” and a calculated attempt to malign the image of the legislature.
Speaking on the floor, a member noted: “We neither collect constituency nor sitting allowances. Our salaries are fixed by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and are nowhere near what was alleged in the video.”
The legislators further emphasized that such reckless posts on social media misinform the public, distort facts, and could cause unwarranted public anger. “We cannot sit back and watch while falsehood is being circulated to discredit our service to the people,” one member said.
They agreed unanimously that Ejim John Ogbeche be summoned to appear before the House to explain the source of his information. “We need to take a firm stand,” a member added, “so that this serves as a warning to others who misuse social media to malign public officials and institutions.”
Speaker of the 10th Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, condemned the publication in strong terms, describing it as defamatory and capable of inciting the public. “Despite inflation and the general economic hardship, the salaries of lawmakers, as fixed by RMAFC, have not been increased. The claims in that video are not just incorrect—they are dangerous,” he asserted.
The Speaker urged the public to verify information before accepting or sharing it, especially when such claims could lead to unnecessary distrust and tension. He added that the House remains committed to transparency, accountability, and responsible governance.
“This Assembly will not tolerate any attempt to bring it to disrepute. We must protect the sanctity of our democratic institutions,” Ayambem concluded.
