The House of Representatives has said it dissolved the joint committee probing infractions in the oil and gas sector to ensure efficiency, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, House spokesman Akintunde Rotimi said the clarification became necessary because of insinuations in some sections of the media about the action of its leadership.
The statement reads: “The House of Representatives has observed, with consternation, the speculations in some sections of the media following the dissolution of the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas by the leadership of the House.
“It is necessary to clarify that the action by the leadership was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.
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“Appallingly, some people went to town with speculations regarding the action of the leadership, with some making allegations of a rift between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, while others alleged that there was an inducement for the appointment of a committee chairman.
“The House of Representatives, therefore, wishes to clarify that the House has its internal working mechanisms, which are enabled by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that ‘Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House.’
“That the leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises and that the action taken by the House to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas Investigation did not contravene any rule of the House or any law of the land.”