Ndume To Agbese: “Maga Dog, Can You Tell Your Father The Same Thing

According to Ireporter Online, Senator Ali Ndume, who represents Borno South, has sharply criticised the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, over comments concerning the tax laws recently signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ndume, during a television interview, had maintained that the version of the tax laws assented to by the president was not identical to the version passed by the National Assembly, raising concerns about possible discrepancies in the legislative process.

In response, Agbese dismissed the senator’s claims, describing suggestions of legislative manipulation as mischievous and insisting that there was no falsification of the tax laws.

However, speaking to journalists on Sunday in Abuja, Ndume fired back, describing Agbese as disrespectful and using the term “maga dog” to criticise what he called the deputy spokesman’s conduct. Ndume stressed that he was old enough to be Agbese’s father and said the remarks directed at him were unbecoming of someone holding such an office.

The senator called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to caution Agbese, arguing that the deputy spokesman had overstepped his bounds by publicly attacking him on an issue that was still under investigation.

Ndume emphasised that only the committee chaired by Muktar Betara has the authority to determine whether there are differences between the version of the tax laws passed by parliament and the one later gazetted, noting that the matter remains under review.

He further attributed Agbese’s comments to inexperience, stating that the lawmaker is a first-time member of the House and may be seeking to impress the leadership. Ndume said his concerns were purely procedural and not personal, explaining that his observations were based on a detailed review of the legislative proceedings and wording of the documents.

According to Ndume, even minor differences in phrasing between the harmonised and gazetted versions of the law could lead to varying interpretations, making it necessary for parliament to conduct a thorough comparison of both documents.

He accused Agbese of acting out of personal ambition rather than institutional responsibility, insisting that the House of Representatives has not taken an official position on the issue. Ndume maintained that a transparent, section-by-section review of the tax laws would help reassure Nigerians and uphold the integrity of the legislative process.