The House of Representatives on Friday suspended the former chairman of its ad hoc committee on the management of subsidy regime, Farouk Lawan, to allow for an unfettered investigation of his alleged receipt of $620,000 from an oil marketer, Femi Otedola.
The decision was taken at a special session convened by the House to deliberate on the raging bribery scandal.
Thunderous ovation marked the session.
The decision to suspend Lawan was based on the motion moved by Ishaka Bawa and seconded by Rafeeqat Onabamiro.
The matter was also referred to its Committee on Ethics and Privileges.
The House also asked the Management of the National Assembly and its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the committee’s Clerk, Boniface Emenalo, for his involvement in the scandal.
The session, which was marked by repeated thunderous ovation, was the second since the sixth legislature was convened on June 6, 2011.
The House also passed a vote of confidence in the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, based on a motion moved by Samson Osagie.
The lawmaker warned against a dangerous trend of using security agencies to intimidate elected members of the legislature in order to protect powerful people.
He said the recording of the alleged receipt of the bribe by security agencies was reminiscent of the Watergate scandal udner former United States President, Richard Nixon.
The legislators also mandated John Enoh to take over the leadership of the ad hoc committee and adopted a motion that two oil firms, Synopsis International and Zenon Petroleum and Gas (owned by Otedola) should account to anti-graft agencies for the sums of $51449977.7 and $232,975,385.13 respectively which they received as subsidy funds.
The House also directed its committees on anti-graft agencies to ensure the implementation of the recommendations in the report by the relevant agencies.
In a short speech, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to continue to support the House and vowed that it would not allow the scandal overshadow the report.
“”We shall never compromise our stand against corruption. May I also ask the executive to match words with action in the implementation of this report.
“”As members of the parliament, we enjoy no immunity and seek none,” he said.
The House dissolved into a Committee of the Whole at 11.58a.m chaired by deputy speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, and considered the motion for Synopsis and Zenon to be asked to account for the subsidy funds received by them.
After considering the report, it reverted to plenary at 12.09p.m and adopted the report.
Ihedioha said the implication of the resolution is that the House has asked the anti-graft agencies to investigate Synopsis and Zenon for collecting the said subsidy funds and failing to utilise them as required.
At 12.15p.m, Tsokwa moved the motion for the adoption of the votes and proceedings of the session and was seconded by Friday Itulah.
The motion was adopted and the House adjourned till Tuesday, June 19, 2012 at 12.19p.m Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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This is a mission for redemption of image. Its quite unfortunate dat corruption has eaten deep into dem. A fight dat will consume dem. Let d movie play, we r watching.
ReplyDeleteIs the executive arm of govt really serious about ds fuel probe? If I were God,....
ReplyDeleteWe have the goverment we deserve. Most of us nigerian masses will do the same. We are morally bankrupt as a people and with no empathy for others. We get joy from opressing others. If we really are against what is happening we would have taken back our goverment in mass protests. Honourables, continue to steal jare, we have not yet had enough.
ReplyDeleteWhy did the house members not ask for the details of supporting documents allegedly provided by Zenon and Synopsis that warranted Lawan recommending their exclusion from the list? All he had to say was "we received further documents" and they all said "ye" to the recommendation. Lawan should start singing and implicate all those involved in sharing the bribe. We know 99% if not all 100% of Nigerian politicians are corrupt just that Lawan was stupid enough to be caught "green handed".
ReplyDeleteYes, something is wrong with the entire house! A report that was collected over months and in few days the chairman came back to say they were wrong on some issues based on some unseen documents! There and then, the house ratified the removal of otedola's companies from the list! Haba! Se na juju Farouk used?!
ReplyDeleteNaija! Wetin they happen to us now?! Na curse?
The other time obj called all leg. Arm of govt thief, they were all revolt. What are they goin to do wash themselve clean now? It is now true that all of them are army robber. May God save us in Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteConcerning the subsidy probe report, we pray WORDS be matched with appropriate ACTIONS!
ReplyDelete