N628m scam: Speaker, deputy face probe

The House of Representatives on Wednesday set up a nine-member panel to probe the N628m contract scandal involving the Speaker, Mrs. Patricia Etteh, and her deputy, Alhaji Babangida Nguroje.

The panel, whose members were drawn from the three leading political parties in the House, has two weeks to submit its report.It is headed by Mr. David Idoko, a Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker.Other PDP members on the panel are Messrs Rabe Nasir, Chinedu Eluemuno, Peter Umoh, Depo Oyedokun and Yakubu Dogara.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party has two members on the committee while the Action Congress has one. The ANPP members are Alhaji Nasiru Mohammed and Alhaji Saleh Minjibir.

Mr. Habeeb Fashinro is the AC lawmaker in the committee.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Business and Rules, Mr. Ita Enang, and his counterpart in charge of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Eziuche Ubani, said the panel would sit in public. Enang, however, said that security matters could force the panel to sit in camera.

Etteh, shortly after announcing the panel members as submitted to her by the parties, gave two terms of reference to the committee. The terms are to examine the totality of the award of the contract; and the contract for the purchase of 10 units of vehicles for the principal officers of the House.

The Speaker advised the panel to confine itself strictly to the terms. Before the panel members were announced, Etteh protested that no woman was on the list. But she was countered by Mrs. Binta Garba, who said that she was not worried by the non-representation of women in the panel.

The AC Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, had cited Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution to counter the position of the Speaker, but he was not recognised to speak. Etteh, in her brief remarks, said she was aware of the media reports on the scandal and the interest the public had shown in it.

She explained that her position on the matter was contained in her written address, which the rowdy session on Tuesday did not allow her to read. Etteh said, “We resumed on Tuesday. Honestly speaking, I am aware of what is on the ground. It will be insensitive of me to bring the House into disrepute. I know I am thoroughly involved.”

The decision to investigate the scandal followed a point of order raised by the Minority and ANPP Leader in the House, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume. Ndume’s point of order 5 (1) b, states, “Whenever a matter of privilege arises, it shall be taken into consideration immediately.”

He also cited subsection 5 of the same order, which empowers any member of the House who had complaints to make about media reports or publication on the House to do so. The lawmaker added that the media were awash with reports on the contract scandal.

Ndume said, “As all of us are aware, there have been serious publications in the media that have caused embarrassment to the House members and particularly to myself.

“Madam Speaker, your integrity and that of the House is at stake, and the matter is now in the public eye.
“I feel that it is a responsibility on you and the House to immediately set up an independent committee, I insist, an independent committee, to investigate this matter.
“We feel that the Ethics Committee of the House should not be given this responsibility of investigating the case.”

The legislator noted that the Speaker stood to be either cleared or indicted by the panel, and advised her to step aside for the probe to be carried out.

“All Nigerians are waiting for this investigation and we should do it thoroughly,” he said.

Mr. Independence Ogunewe, in his contribution, aligned with Ndume’s submission on the need to investigate the scam. But he rejected the suggestion that Etteh should step aside. According to him, Etteh had not been found guilty and, therefore, it was needless to ask her to step aside.

He enjoined the House to adhere to due process in carrying out the investigation. Ogunewe said, “I very much agree that the mood of the House is that there should be an enquiry. The issues raised still remain allegations.

“The House is the custodian of democracy and democracy is about the rule of law. Fairness should be given the other side to state its case.” According to him, it is “preposterous to ask the Speaker to step aside because we have not found her guilty.

“I agree with the ANPP leader that this committee should be independent. So, if we agree that it should be independent. I think the next step will be how to constitute the committee.” Another member, Dr. M Abdul, an ANPP member, said that his colleagues were worried by the gravity of the allegations.

“It is very important that we establish the facts because we came from excellent backgrounds and we don’t want to destroy the future of our children,” Abdul said. He quoted an adage which says, “If wealth is lost, nothing is lost, but if character is lost, everything is lost.”

A member of the Integrity Group, Dr. Ahmed Salik, disclosed to newsmen that lawmakers held a marathon meeting on Tuesday night on how to constitute the committee. He said that it was at the meeting that they conceded to Etteh, the right to appoint the chairman of the committee.

Other lawmakers, who expressed satisfaction with the way the panel was set up include, the Leader of the group, Mr. Farouk Lawan.

The point of order raised by a member of the New Agenda Group, Mr. Emmanuel Jimeh’ when the Speaker had not concluded matters on Ndume’s Order 5 and related issues almost caused a stir. Gbajabiamila had nominated himself as the AC member of the panel, but his colleagues objected.

They said that the entire leadership of the House was being investigated.

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, has appealed for caution by the members of the House in handling the contract scam. Mark, in his address of welcome to senators after their recess, said that due process should be followed before passing a verdict.

He said, “Within our vicinity, there is a controversy surrounding the renovation of the residence of the Hon. Speaker and that of the Deputy Speaker. As usual, the matter is already in the public domain.”

The President of the Senate said since the matter posed varied challenges to the legislature, its members were required to rise to the occasion by being prepared to handle the issue alongside other legislative duties.

Also on Wednesday, the Governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswan, expressed fear that the scandal may have retarded the progress made in the last eight years.

Fielding questions from newsmen at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Suswan said that he was surprised that the leadership of the House could allow money to tear them apart.

The governor said, “What we would have expected is that they would have settled down. It is unfortunate that they are starting on that note.
“I find it quite unfortunate that it borders on money. I do believe and hope that they will get to the bottom of it and get out of it quickly so that they can settle down.”

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