Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has dismissed claims that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secured loans for Abuja without obtaining the required approval of the National Assembly.

Agbese, a Labour Party lawmaker representing a constituency in Benue State, said there was no evidence showing that Wike violated any law in sourcing funds for projects and programmes being implemented in the FCT.

He was responding to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe, the lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory in the National Assembly, who recently questioned the FCT Administration’s debt profile.

Kingibe had said she brought the issue to the attention of the Senate leadership after examining information obtained from the Debt Management Office covering August 2023 to March 2026.

Speaking on a Channels Television programme, the senator said she had not seen Wike approach the Senate to obtain approval for any loan.

She explained that FCT budgets were submitted through the appropriate Senate committee before being considered and approved by the chamber, adding that her concerns about borrowing were based on data contained in DMO documents.

However, speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese described the claim that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly as misleading.

He explained that public borrowing was subject to constitutional, legal and administrative procedures involving several government institutions, stressing that the FCT minister did not have the power to independently create a sovereign debt obligation.

“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.

The lawmaker said Wike had remained subject to legislative oversight through the presentation of FCT budgets and appearances before relevant committees of the National Assembly.

According to him, a rise in the FCT’s debt profile does not automatically establish that the territory engaged in unlawful borrowing, particularly given the volume of infrastructure projects carried out under Wike.

He cited road construction and rehabilitation, transportation infrastructure and other capital projects across Abuja as examples of the administration’s interventions.

Agbese stressed that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not inherently illegal, provided that the necessary approvals and procedures were obtained.

“The critical issue is whether the required approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.

He further rejected claims that Wike had operated without legislative scrutiny, saying the National Assembly had continued to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities over the FCT Administration.

“Under our searchlight, the FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants. He has consistently engaged the National Assembly and subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” he said.

Agbese urged lawmakers and other stakeholders to support allegations about public borrowing with identifiable transactions and official records rather than political assertions.

He said Kingibe and others with concerns should specify the transactions in question so that the relevant authorities could provide the records, approvals and other documents relating to them.

The deputy spokesman also cautioned against attributing the responsibilities of different government institutions involved in public finance, borrowing and debt management solely to the FCT minister.

He argued that Wike’s performance should be assessed by considering the projects delivered, the procedures followed in financing them and their impact on residents, rather than focusing exclusively on the territory’s debt profile.

The disagreement adds to the continuing differences between Kingibe and the FCT Administration over the management, financing and implementation of development projects in Abuja.

While Kingibe has raised concerns about transparency, budget execution and the FCT’s financial obligations, the administration has maintained that its activities comply with applicable laws and established government procedures.