The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Reps

  • Reps back Oduah’s sack

    Reps back Oduah’s sack

    The House of Representatives has backed President Goodluck Jonathan’s sack of Ms Stella Oduah as Aviation Minister of Aviation.

    The lawmakers said the budget of the National Conference, though unconfirmed, would be reviewed when the House goes in into the consideration of the 2014 budget.

    House spokesman Zakari Mohammed, who spoke in company of his deputy, Victor Ogene, noted that though it was coming late, the President had done the right thing.

    Mohammed said the sack of the former minister was a justification of the House’s stance on corruption, which he said the lawmakers were focused on eliminating in government.

    Ms Oduah was, last year, accused of buying two bulletproof cars at an alleged inflated price of N255 million. The House recommended her for sack.

    Mohammed said: “The House of Representatives has kept faith with exposing corruption and for us; we have done our job. If the President has finally decided to do his now, then we are on the same page.”

    Though Mohammed refused to comment on the budgetary figure for the National Conference convoked by the Presidency, he assured that the House would review the proposal when it comes to the National Assembly.

    He said: “As an institution, it is too early for us to talk about the desirability of the conference and the budget for it. But when they bring it to us, we will look at it critically.”

    Asked about the legality of defection on the floor of the House while the Senate refused to recognise similar attempts, Ogene (APGA, Anambra) said Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was merely abiding by an early court order restraining him from declaring members’ seats vacant.

    He said: “I would like to remark that Tambuwal is a lawyer and, being a professional, he has to abide by the Rules. He is an embodiment of wishes and aspirations of all members in the House.

    “He is simply obeying court orders. Any communication that comes to him, he will address it.”

  • Malabu oil deal: Reps seek recovery of $1.092bn

    Malabu oil deal: Reps seek recovery of $1.092bn

    … Want Adoke, Ngama prosecuted

    The House of Representatives is seeking the recovery of $1.092 billion paid on the transaction involving the Federal Government, Shell/Agip Companies and Malabu Oil and Gas in respect of an oil block – OPL 245 in 2011.

    The report also seeks the prosecution of top government officials involved in the alleged scam.

    According to an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission interim report on the case, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke and former Minister of State, Finance, Dr. Yerima Lawal Ngama, instructed the release of the funds into Malabu Oil and Gas Limited accounts in August 2011.

    In a report by the Leo Ogor- headed ad- hoc committee on the transaction, the committee recommended:

    “That in line with global best practices, accountability and transparency, individuals and financial institutions linked with and found culpable by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of receiving and transferring money unlawfully with respect to or arising out of the Resolution Agreement, should be charged to an appropriate court of competent jurisdiction, and any such monies unlawfully transferred should be recovered.”

    Malabu Oil and Gas is owned by Mohammed Abacha, son of the late dictator, who has 50 percent.

    Other investors in the company are- a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dan Etete (30 percent) and Pecos Energy (20 percent).

    The report added that the granting of the licences was based on a highly flawed Resolution Agreement entered into between Malabu Oil and Gas, SNEPCO and Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited with the Federal Government acting as obligator.

    “The Resolution Agreement put together by the Federal Government ceded away our national interest and further committed Nigeria to some unacceptable indemnities and liabilities while acting as obligator,” the report said.

     

     

  • Reps to probe cash-for-defection allegation

    Reps to probe cash-for-defection allegation

    The House of Representatives yesterday began investigation into the allegation of cash-for- defection levelled against the Presidency and five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who defected to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

    The APC, through its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, alleged that the PDP offered some members of the House of Representatives millions of dollars to defect to the ruling party.

    But Majority Leader Leo Ogor described the allegation as “unfortunate”.

    The lawmaker said: “The APC is crying wolf.”

    APC members who defected to the PDP on Tuesday are: Lawan Shehu Bichi (Kano State), Sani Ibrahim Doruwa, (Zamfara), Ibrahim Shehu, (Zamfara), Umar Bature, (Sokoto) and Abdusalam Adamu, (Kano).

    The House referred the matter to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to establish the veracity of the inducement allegation.

    The committee is to report back to the House within two weeks.

    The decision of the House followed a motion brought before it by a member, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), that the allegation was not only a breach of his privilege but also against the integrity and image of the members.

    His motion was greeted by shouts from APC and PDP members. While the APC members hailed the move to investigate the allegation, the PDP members shouted: “They should provide proof; they must prove it!”

    Chinda said Mohammed should be invited to substantiate the allegation attributed to him.

    The lawmaker urged the House to ensure that the public does not have a wrong perception of its activities.

    He said: “Let us not take this as if it was a political issue. It has to do with our integrity and image before the electorate. What we should do is get to the root of this matter so that the truth will be known.

    “Clearly, the originator of this communication is known…”

    Chinda prayed the House to direct its Ethics Committee to probe the allegation and report back within two weeks.

    When Speaker Aminu Tambuwal put the issue to a vote, members overwhelmingly supported that it be investigated.

    The matter was referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee.

    Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday denied the inducement allegation.

    In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said the allegation was aimed at casting doubt in the minds of Nigerians on the integrity of the affected lawmakers.

    It said: “All well-meaning Nigerians are indeed worried by the statements and actions of the APC, which are clearly aimed at destroying our democracy and plunging the nation into chaos, by alleging that lawmakers were being financially induced.

    “There is no doubting the fact that the PDP, under its new National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, is reaching out to all its members, including those who defected, in a reconciliation drive that is already yielding dividends.

    “At a point, in the minds of some sections of the public, the PDP got to its lowest level, but we remained focused. Despite the defection of lawmakers from our fold, the PDP never assaulted their integrity.”

  • Reps to investigate cash- for – defection allegation

    Reps to investigate cash- for – defection allegation

    The House of Representatives on Wednesday commenced investigation into the allegation of cash- for- defection leveled against the Presidency and five members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that defected to the Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday.

    The APC through its interim spokesman, Lai Mohammed, has alleged that members of the House of Representatives were offered millions of dollars to defect to the PDP.

    The APC lawmakers that defected to PDP are – Lawan Shehu Bichi ( Kano), Sani Ibrahim Doruwa ( Zamfara), Ibrahim Shehu ( Zamfara), Umar Bature (Sokoto) and Abdusalam Adamu (Kano).

    The House has referred the matter to its committee on Ethics and Privileges to establish the veracity of the allegation.

    The committee is to report back to the House within two weeks.

    The decision of the House was sequel to a motion brought before it by a member, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers).

    According to the lawmaker, the allegation was not only a breach of his privilege, but also against the integrity and image of Rep members before their constituencies.

    His motion was met with loud shouts from both members of APC and PDP. While the APC members lauded the move to investigate the allegations, the PDP members shouted, “they should provide proof, they must prove it!”

     

  • Five APC Reps defect to PDP

    The defection drama in the House of Representatives was re-enacted on Tuesday as five members of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    However, the PDP also lost one member to the APC.

    This was after allegations of huge financial inducement from the Presidency hit the defecting members from the PDP.

    The Reps’ defection letters were read out at plenary by the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Members from the APC who defected to PDP are – Honourable Lawan Shehu Bichi (Kano), Sani Ibrahim Doruwa (Zamfara), Ibrahim Shehu ( Zamfara) Umar Bature ( Sokoto) and Abdusalam Adamu ( Kano).

    Isah Mohammed Ashiru, (PDP Kaduna State) defected to the APC.

    Obviously, the current defection would no doubt affect the APC caucus claim to a majority in the House with PDP now having 178 members to APC’s 168.

    Tambuwal, who announced the names of the defectors, said that, “I will read the letters communicated to me by my colleagues.”

    But the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, via a point of Order had protested that the Speaker was spending too much time reading the list of defectors.

     

  • Kerosene subsidy: Alison-Madueke, NNPC, PPMC shun Reps’ probe

    Kerosene subsidy: Alison-Madueke, NNPC, PPMC shun Reps’ probe

    The House of Representatives proposed investigation into the Kerosene subsidy did not hold on Monday due to the absence of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison- Madueke, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andrew Yakubu and the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC).

    The House had through a resolution mandated the Dakuku Peterside- headed Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) to investigate issues surrounding kerosene supply, distribution and subsidy payments from 2010 to 2013.

    After a long wait for Alison-Madueke, Yakubu and the PPMC representative to arrive, the meeting was eventually postponed to February 18 by the committee chairman.

    It would be the second time the investigation has been pushed forward.

    The committee had in its letters to the three principal actors in the sector requested for the provision of all relevant detailed information as it relates to approvals on kerosene subsidy, source of money for payment of the subsidy, budgetary approvals, kerosine import details, PFI allocation and product distribution chart, PPPRA authorization and validations, auditors approval and reports, relevant shipping documents and all other documents that will assist the committee in discharging its responsibility.

    However, a letter from the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, dated February 7, but received in Peterside’s office a few minutes before the commencement of the probe gave reasons for the minister’s absence and requested for a rescheduling of the hearing.

    It partly reads: “I wish to inform you that the Honourale Minister together with the top management of the ministry and its agencies will be participating in the International Summit on Power Financing starting today, 10th February, 2014.

    “As a result we regret to inform you of our inability to honour your invitation. We area so currently engaged with the Senate Committee on Finance and it is not clear when their hearing will end. ”

     

  • Reps’ and their 50 questions

    SIR: The Nigerian nation never ceases to throw up interesting, sometimes absurd scenarios. The latest of these is the ongoing face-off between the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the House of Representatives Committee  on Finance, over the budget and the state of the economy. The committee had asked the minister to furnish it with information and answer to a set of 50 questions which the minister obliged the committee. Last week however, the committee, through its chairman, Abdulmumini Jibrin, rejected the minister’s response out of hand, insisting that “some questions were either not answered, partially answered, ignored or completely misunderstood”. Consequent upon this, the minister has been sent another set of 50 questions and mandated to appear before the committee for further questioning.

    There is something not quite right in the present face-off. Indeed, it is actually members of the House of Representative Committee on Finance that have questions to answer. While it is true that the minister is the coordinator of the economy, it is also true that she is not alone in ensuring that the economy does not go to the dogs. The House of Representative, through its committee on finance, ought to realize that Nigerians are not fools and cannot be hoodwinked into shifting blames for the parlous state of the economy to the finance minister alone.

    How accountable are the lawmakers themselves? How have they been expending the monies allocated to them for constituency projects and oversight functions? What have they to say about the humongous amount being paid out to them every month in salaries and other emoluments, the bulk of which forms part of our recurrent expenditure?

    Can these men, in all honesty, wash themselves clean of the hushed allegation making the round that they routinely collect bribe in order to approve ministry budgets and other spending?

    We cannot forget the case of Honourable Farouk Lawan. We cannot forget that this is a parliament whose members have been routinely implicated in sundry cases of bribery leading to aborted investigation into corruption cases. Can this House consider itself morally upright enough to ask the minister the so-called 50 questions?

    No nation can expect to be great if the leaders will always think that they can always pull the wool over the eyes of the citizenry. For sooner than later, it would be revealed that no matter for how long falsehood may have been travelling, it will take only a small moment for the truth to catch up with it. Nigeria is our collective heritage and we cannot allow a bunch of self-serving people to keep it down in perpetual thrall.

     

    •Issachar Odion,

    <mail4issachar@gmail.com>

     

  • Reps to probe suspected Boko Haram members’ arrest

    Reps to probe suspected Boko Haram members’ arrest

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday mandated the Committees on Police Affairs and Human Rights to investigate the arrest of 320 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect in Rivers.
    This resolution emanated from a motion moved by Suleiman Kawau (APC-Kano), the deputy minority leader which was adopted without debate.
    According to Kawu, on January 27, the police arrested 320 women, men and children in a convoy of 17 buses at the boundary between Rivers and Imo.
    He said the arrest had raised several issues that required immediate attention of every well-meaning Nigerian.
    The legislator maintained that the arrested persons were petty traders and menial job seekers in the state.
    Kawu stressed that such arrest and injustice portrayed obvious danger capable of further overheating the polity.
    He said that section 41 of the 1999 Constitution amended guarantees every Nigerian the right to move freely within the country.
    Kawu said the Police in Rivers had abandoned its responsibility of protecting the people to harassing innocent people.
    In another development, Joseph Kigbu (APC-Nasarawa) has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party.
    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that his defection was contained in a letter read by the Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on the floor of the House.

  • ‘New Constitution to be ready July’

    The Chairman, House of Representatives’ Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, on Sunday said the country’s new Constitution would be ready by July.
    Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okuta, Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, that the delay in producing it was as a result of wide consultation.
    He said the task of amending a constitution is a tedious job and not a job which people would sit down and conclude easily.
    “But we are looking at the month of June or July as when we are going to have a clean copy of the new constitution for Nigeria.
    “For what we did in the House of Representatives, we went to the 360 Federal Constituencies and, as much as possible, we were able to gather the views of the people.
    “What we have reported is exactly what we pushed forward for them, and what we are saying is that at the end of the day, we are going to have a constitution that is workable for the Nigerian people,’’ Mohammed said.

  • House leadership: We will abide by court’s order – APC

    The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) caucus in the House of Representatives, on Tuesday said it would abide by the court order restraining it from effecting a change in the leadership of the House.

    The leader of the caucus and Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos), told journalists in Abuja that the decision to abide by the order was deliberate.

    He added that the APC would always fight to change the culture of impunity through the rule of law.

    He stressed that effecting a change in the leadership of the House would only be delayed but was inevitable.

    Samson Osagie (APC-Edo), the Minority Whip said members of the party would continue to reaffirm their confidence in the leadership of the House under Aminu Tambuwal.

    “We will not allow the culture of impunity to go on in this country,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Minority Whip as saying to journalists.

    Ali Ahmad (APC-Kwara) said that the court had no jurisdiction to grant the order restraining the House.

    NAN reports that a Federal High Court in Abuja, on January 20, restrained the House from changing its leadership pending the determination of a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party.

    Meanwhile, four members of the House switched parties on Tuesday.

    Ganama Titsi and Francis Hannaniya, both from Adamawa, left the APC to join the PDP.

    While Emmanuel Jime, (PDP-Benue) and Yahaya Kwande (DPP-Plateau), defected to the APC.