Majority Leader Alban Bagbin has launched scathing attack on ex-speaker Begyina Sakyi-Hughes, accusing him of looting and misappropriating state property without authority. “The Speaker is really confused, he has caused a mess and I think he should fry in his own steam. He cannot try to hang on any straw when he is drowning.” “I am surprised the Speaker instead of coming out to apologize to the nation for what he has done, he is trying to justify it and trying to hang on anything. But unfortunately there is nothing to hang on. You can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand.” Alban Bagbin was reacting to claims that he and other leaders of the house were paid monies in lieu of soft furnishing used. Alban Bagbin told Citi News on Friday, the allegation is nothing but a fabrication by the ex-speaker meant to destroy his hard won reputation. His strong rebuttal comes in the wake of allegations that Hon. Sakyi Hughes stripped his official bungalow of all soft furnishings as part of his retirement benefits. The furnishings are said to have cost the nation several thousands of cedis and has triggered investigations by the Parliamentary Service Board. Even before the investigations will be officially concluded, the majority leader has accused the ex-Speaker of schemes and manipulations to have a juicy package as retirement benefits. He said, Mr. Hughes compelled the Chairman of the Chinery-Hesse Committee to approve a bungalow and four vehicles as retirement benefits for him, but that was rejected by the committee. Not impressed with the response, the ex-Speaker, according to the majority leader, then confronted the Parliamentary Service Board to have these packages approved. Alban Babgin disclosed that the ex-speaker then convened a Parliamentary Service Board meeting on December 15, 2008 in the heat of the second round election campaign and without the necessary quorum, approved monies to be paid in lieu to leaders of the house as soft furnishings. That decision, the majority leader claimed was reviewed by the Joyce Banford Addo-led administration. “I never received any pesewa from the state in lieu of soft furnishings. No such money was paid to any leader of the house. That is a blatant lie,” Alban Bagbin said angrily, adding “the ex-Speaker must check his facts before he misleads the public.” He said he has referred the case to the police for investigations so the ex-Speaker will be prosecuted if found guilty of theft. Listen to excerpts of the interview with the Majority Leader in the attached audio. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline