THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Ethics and Privileges yesterday began an investigation into the $620,000 bribery allegation that resulted from the petroleum products’ subsidy management probe. The investigation, however, fell short of public expectation as the Gambo Musa-led Ethics Committee suddenly decided to conduct the hearing behind closed doors.On the part of the Federal Government, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said in Brussels, Belgium, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was carefully investigating the House of Representatives oil subsidy report towards establishing water-tight cases against those who may have committed offences warranting prosecution.
Besides, the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee probing the near-collapse of the country’s capital market yesterday gave insight into how its efforts were being frustrated by three key stakeholders.
The committee, set up by the chamber under the leadership of Ibrahim El-Sudi after the row between the substantive Chairman of the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Herman Hembe, and the suspended Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Arunma Oteh, was expected to present its report yesterday in line with the time-frame given it by the House.
But the panel Chairman, El-Sudi, at a press conference yesterday said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), SEC and the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) blatantly refused to release some documents requested by the committee.
Jonathan told Nigerians resident in Belgium after delivering a keynote address to the 119th/120th sessions of the World Customs Organisation that “the EFCC is working on the report, so we must give them the chance to do their job. We have to build water-tight cases if we hope to get any conviction for any wrong-doing, and the law demands proof.”
Jonathan said it was better to do a good job than to lose the cases in court due to shoddy preparations.
Urging Nigerians, especially the media, not to consistently run Nigeria down, the President said: “Take a look at the USA: After September 11, 2001, all Americans came together to support their government’s fight against terrorism, regardless of their political leaning. Nigerians should not play to the gallery or play politics with serious national issues. We will continue to ensure our freedom of speech, but we should use it to build the country, and not destroy.”
Jonathan called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to join the transformation agenda by investing in industries at home to create jobs.
Defending the closed-door approach adopted by the Ethics Committee, the House Spokesman, Zakari Mohammed, told reporters at a separate press conference later yesterday that the House directed the committee to use this method in order to avoid jeopardising the other investigations being conducted by law enforcement agencies on the same matter.
Zakari explained that had the committee been allowed to conduct the probe in the open, some persons who were equally affected might use information provided by Lawan to their advantage.
The serious nature of the investigation became obvious even from the moment Lawan entered the venue of the interrogation at 1.07 p.m., some 37 minutes later than the 12.30 p.m. slated as take-off time for the probe.
The Ethics Committee also announced that it had extended invitation to Femi Otedola to appear on a separate date, which it refused to disclose.
Lawan, who came into the hall alone, was dressed in a full all-white Hausa traditional attire called Babariga, with a skull cap to match.
On sighting the large number of journalists present at the venue, he quickly shouted even before taking his seat, saying: “Is it a full house, chairman?” But there was no response from the committee chairman and all members present.
After reading a prepared speech to signal the commencement of the investigation, Musa shocked his audience by asking journalists to leave the hall, pointing out that the committee preferred to conduct the investigation behind closed doors.
Lawan had last week declared that he would be vindicated on the $3 million bribery saga during his first appearance in the chamber since the matter broke open.
On the frustration of the capital market probe, El-Sudi cited the forensic audit of the nationalised banks (former Bank PHB now Keystone, Afribank, now Mainstreet Bank and Spring Bank, now Enterprise Bank) by the CBN as one of the key details being sought.
He accused the CBN of coming up with diversionary tactics by hiding under certain exceptions in Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), as they relate to the powers of the parliament when carrying out investigation. But quickly pointed out that CBN could not interpret the constitution to suit its purpose, as according to him, such exceptions only relate directly to security-related matters.
El-Sudi, who said the committee had issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the CBN to provide the information requested, which elapsed yesterday morning, said it was not clear whether his committee would lay the report without those details being expected.
A letter from the Director of Legal Services in the CBN, S.M. Onekutu, obtained by reporters yesterday acknowledged the receipt of the committee’s letter, but explained that the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and other members of the board of the apex bank were attending a retreat in South Africa, and would not be back until next week.
The letter dated June 27, 2012 read in part: “I am constrained to inform the Honourable Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee that the governor and other members of the board of the bank are currently attending a retreat in South Africa and would not be back in the office until next week.
“In the circumstances, we urge the committee to permit the governor to respond to the committee’s request as soon as he is back from his official trip outside the country.”
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