The two major characters in the alleged N44 million scam "drama" rocking the House of Representatives - Herman Hembe and Ms Aruma Oteh - are to appear before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today.
All documents and vouchers involved in the controversial transaction, have been retrieved from the SEC by the Commission.
The agency urged the Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa, to release Hembe, his erstwhile deputy, Chris Azubogu for interrogation over the purported trip to Dominican Republic.
Azubogu, it was learnt, also partook in the funds allegedly provided by the SEC for the ill-fated trip.
The EFCC has had a preliminary interaction with the SEC director-general.
EFCC chairman Ibrahim Lamorde had on Tuesday raised a panel to look into the alleged bribery scam.
According to a source “The EFCC team has gone to SEC to collect all documents, memos and vouchers related to the money in question.
“Our team was in SEC on Tuesday and Wednesday to conduct the search for these documents. Initially, we took Oteh’s statement, based on her allegations. But after fresh documents were released by both parties, we may have to take more statement from the DG of SEC.
“We have written to the Clerk of the National Assembly to release Hembe and his former deputy, Chris Azubogu, for interrogation.
“The deputy will be quizzed because we have secured documents indicating that he was also financed by SEC for a capacity building training in Dominican Republic.”
Herman was until March 19 the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Capital Market. Ms. Oteh is the Director-General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).
They, alongside some members of the committee, have been invited by the anti-graft agency for questioning.
The lower chamber of the National Assembly warned yesterday the SEC management to stop further public comments on the on-going investigation into the bribery allegations between House Committee on Capital Market and the SEC.
It also promised that the proceedings of the investigations by the new ad-hoc Committee for the continuation of investigation into the capital market crisis as well as the Ethics and Privileges Committee into the allegations of graft would be aired live.
Briefing reporters yesterday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Zakari Mohammed, said: “I don’t think it is right for the SEC’s spokesman to continue to make comments on the matter because investigative bodies have been constituted to get to the root of the allegations.
“Also, the EFCC is involved and when comments like this continue to make the rounds, it can affect the course of the investigation. Those comments can confuse the probe panels. Remember the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges is also probing the affected committee. So, making comments on the on-going investigation should stop henceforth.
“It is necessary that all parties involved in the matter to give the committee the benefit of doubts and wait for its report. The committee has 21 days to work on the matter and I can assure you that there will be fair hearing for all the parties involved as Herman Hembe has kept silent, waiting for the outcome of the panel’s report.
“Anything said by the parties involved will go a long way in distorting what is on ground because it is just like a matter in the court. You know that with this issue on ground, the integrity of the House of Representatives has been called to question.
“We just want to implore those on the other side; I mean the spokesman of been SEC should be asked to ceasefire. If the probe panels have empowered to investigate, I don’t think it right if he continues to talk while the panels are working”.
Mohammed who allayed fears over the involvement of the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices Commission and other Related Offences (ICPC), said the two anti-graft bodies required no formal invitation to investigate corruption.
Regretting the effect of the bribery allegation on the integrity of the House, Mohammed, however, assured that the Samson Osagie-led House Committee on Ethics and Privileges would not deprive Nigerians of the proceeding of the hearing as it would be beamed live in the interest of the country.
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We dey wait oooooooooooo,while we are still laughing!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is very annoying, a lot of people have lost their hard earned and fortune in the stock market, these prodigal children of bitch are squandring the money. May God`s Judgement come upon them all.
ReplyDeletey did they stop airing live the hearing between both parties na wa oooo
ReplyDeletei dey wait ooooo