The House Committee on Public Accounts investigating the expenditure was set to conduct a public hearing on Monday, but it was stalled by an Abuja Federal High Court order.
Alison- Madueke and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation listed the National Assembly and the House of Representatives as the defendants in the suit with reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/295/2014 and dated April 11, 2014.
It was gathered that a “surprised” Tambuwal was served the restraining order on Monday morning.
“This has never happened before in this country that a serving minister is asking a court to stop the parliament from doing its work,” a committee source told a source on Monday.
“These are indeed, no ordinary times. I am seriously disturbed about the way we want to run this country”, he added.
The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, confirmed the development to journalists.
“The court processes were served on us today (Monday); the speaker has been served.
“Simply put, it is to notify us that, this matter which you want to investigate, we have gone to court”, Mohammed stated.
Mohammed described Alison-Madueke’s action as a “temporary setback”? for the House, but assured the public that the legislature would fight to the finish.
According to him, being a “law-abiding House”, the first reaction was to put the hearing on hold until legal opinions were sought.
He spoke further, “We expected the minister to be here today(Monday) for the hearing.
“Instead, we have been served with court processes. As law-abiding citizens, we have decided to wait. We will tarry awhile, take some legal opinions and move on from there.
“What has happened tells you the kind of frustration that the House is facing. A matter of public importance is under investigation and a minister is telling us that she has gone to court.
“However, our job is to expose corruption. We will study the court papers and take it up from there.”
The PAC Chairman, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, expressed shock over the minister’s decision to “rush to court.”
He asked, “Is this to say there is something to hide? What was she afraid of that she went to court?
“The restraining order was served on the Office of the Speaker, stopping us from going ahead with the investigation.
“As a committee, we have not seen a copy, but since the speaker was served, we cannot pretend not to be aware.”
It was gathered that, while the original mandate of the committee was to investigate the alleged N10bn expenditure on the Challenger 850, the committee stumbled on additional information indicating that Alison-Madueke chartered two other jets.
One of them, a Global Express XRS, was said to have cost €600,000 in a return charter trip to London.
Olamilekan claimed that all was set for the probe on Monday (yesterday) only for members to be confronted with the news on the court order.
He stated that two aviation firms, Visa Jets and Jet Hanger, had already made submissions to the committee.
On the part of the NNPC, Olamilekan said the committee received a letter from the corporation asking for an extension of the deadline.
However, he admitted that, with the minister’s decision to go to court, the committee had been compelled to await the outcome of the court processes.
But, findings revealed that the committee members were in a dilemma long before the court order reached the House on Monday.
Alison-Madueke had twice failed to respond to letters the committee wrote, asking her to state her side of the allegation preparatory to the public hearing.
A further directive to make the submissions before April 28, was again ignored.
When contacted on Monday, an official at the Petroleum ministry, who pleaded not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the subject, said, “I can confirm to you that there has been some leads as to why the minister decided to stop answering the House.
“In fact, the court order is one of such leads and it has restrained the House from probing her.”
Another official said the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, and the minister decided not to honour the House panel’s request “because they’ve been very busy lately.
“The minister is a very busy woman, so also is the GMD. They can’t be answering to every call at the detriment of their duties at the ministry and the NNPC and we hope that with this court order, these things will be adequately addressed.”
The FHC will on Tuesday (Tuesday) begin hearing in the suit by the minister and the NNPC.
In the suit, they asked the FHC for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents “whether by themselves, their members, committees or agents from summoning or directing” their appearance “before any committee, particularly the PAC set up by the House of Representatives” to conduct the investigation.
They also want the court to stop the committee from asking any official of the ministry or the NNPC to produce any papers, notes or other documents or give any evidence in line with a letter from the House dated March 26, 2014, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
In the same vein, they asked for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from issuing a warrant to compel the minister’s attendance, or the attendance of any official of the ministry or the NNPC, with regard to the investigation.
In the alternative, the plaintiffs want the court to make an order of status quo, directing the parties to maintain the current position with regard to the investigation, as of the date of filing of the suit.
The court order which was made available to our correspondent, indicated that after hearing an ex parte motion moved by Alison-Madueke’s counsel, Etigwe Uwa (SAN), Justice Ahmed Mohammed made an order directing the defendants to appear before the court to show cause why the interim orders sought by the plaintiffs should not be made by the court. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Na wa Ooo! Wonders shall never end in this country! This big-eyed woman is obviously a thief! A BIG thief! She's indicted herself already. A public office holder has been called to account for her deeds and someone is out there saying she's busy - busy doing what? Is it her husband's or father's property? Whether she likes it or not, she's going down. What an affront on the general public!
ReplyDeletewith this act, Nigerians will now know the people ruling this country.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you expect from Alison, the problem of Nigeria is the judiciary system where truth are been ignore for the sake of corruption and bribery received from thieves called leader, that is govt. Of GEJ surrounded with money mongers and shoeless ministry we try to buy golden shoes that will last them for their entire life. I pity this country under this rubbish judges and court from AY.COM
ReplyDeleteIt has never happen once in this country but its happening now "honourable" so what you gonna do?
ReplyDeleteThat's the government that respected and "will" upholds the rules of law (uphold my foot)
When I said uncle was "encouraging" them (dem dem) some anonymous (faceless,nameless dudes) were asking how, now I ask, are guys reading the handwriting on the wall now?
We all know the minister is Jonathan's ATM. What a shame.
ReplyDeleteThis is d same office Gen Buhari occupied without stealing a kobo. He has no single filling station nor house in Abuja yet some animals will open their dirty mouth to rubbish him while such mouth will be praising this woman.
ReplyDeletebuhari never occupied this office mr anonymous
DeleteThis is a tip of an ice berg of the level of irresponsibility of some Nigerian leaders. How do you explain this, aminister who nomination by the executive was confirmed by the legislature is here rubbishing that arm of government. May God help our nation. The present crop of leaders who are neck deep in corruption cannot fight corruption as all Nigerians are seeing is corruptive element seem to be having the upperhand perpetrating their 'trade' with inpunity. May God deliver our country Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Nigeria, that should always be our confessions. I know high positions in public offices call for a lot of responsibilities and much spendings, but if Nigerian top office holders were compassionate and not greedy, they will learn to make sacrifices for the generations to come knowing the economic status quo of the country. What will it cost the minister of petroleum or any other ministers to join others in a normal commercial flight? Maybe in first class instead of lavishing such huge sums on chartered flights. What are you chartering, do you even have conscience at all. Do you know there are Nigerians that can't even eat due to lack? Gush, greed.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you,Essien. I hope all our leaders can read your comment & follow your advice. May God bless our beloved country,Nigeria.
DeleteMr Essien, u r indeed a man of great wisdom. I love ur chioce of words. Constructive criticism and well delivered. You should b aware dat wen d Nelson mandela was to laid to rest, the American president and all other former presidents went on one flight(Air force one). Dat shows rationality and accountability. May God really help our nation.
DeleteMake una dey there. Perpetual injunction is soon to be issued. I love my country sha.
ReplyDeleteMake una dey there. Perpetual injunction is soon to be issued. I love my country sha.
ReplyDeleteAre these the tpye of leader we want to continue destroying our great country?
ReplyDeleteInstead of cleaning the country, they keep on stealing.
I wished Mr. President shows some signs of his acclaimed war against corruption.
The ministers action clearly shows she is guilty of all being alleged against her, if not why use the corrupt courts we have to shield herself? The judge who granted her this injunction should also be probed, there is no smoke without fire, he must have been given so much money to have that courage asking a body that confirmed this big-eyed woman as minister to stop investigating her. We Nigerians know this is only a temporary set-back.
ReplyDeleteI believe this woman is bigger than the Nigerian constitution otherwise who did she think she is? And for the judge he deserved dismisal! Cant he advise the woman to respect the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria? The guilty are always afraid!!!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm corruption is been progressively transformed this is what I called a daylight official robbery
ReplyDeleteI believe this woman is bigger than the Nigerian constitution otherwise who did she think she is? And for the judge he deserved dismisal! Cant he advise the woman to respect the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria? The guilty are always afraid!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe this woman is bigger than the Nigerian constitution otherwise who did she think she is? And for the judge he deserved dismisal! Cant he advise the woman to respect the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria? The guilty are always afraid!!!
ReplyDeleteI believe this woman is bigger than the Nigerian constitution otherwise who did she think she is? And for the judge he deserved dismisal! Cant he advise the woman to respect the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria? The guilty are always afraid!!!
ReplyDeleteWell, we are waiting for the Executive arm of govt to say something. Reuben Abati and co we are waiting for the President's response. If it other political parties that constructivel criticizes the govt of the day, the 'mad dogs' could have started barking.
ReplyDeleteWe the younger generation (you call us future leaders) are taking notes.
Believe me the Judiciary is our BIG and MAJOUR problem in this countr. One will steal billions of naira and one will be asked to pay 750K another will steal a governor's hand set and such a person will be given life sentence or 35 yrs behind bars.
The case of the current Senate President. Vs the young alhaji is fresh in our minds. God who is the ultimate judge will judge all of you. Can I really die for this country?
The Executive should call the minister to order and mandate her to honour the onvitation of the Legislature for this is the only path of honour or sack and prosecute her. What are EFCC and ICPC waiting for?
God help nigeria.
Those that cripple this nation will not go unpunished....God bless Nigeria
ReplyDeleteyouths wake up from ur slumber,stop wasting your time listening to d musics of dbanj,davido etc and indulging in wasteful living,ignorantly expecting God to change ur country while u fold ur hands doing nothing and your elders destroys ur future.d said time is now.posterity is waiting for d actions d youths of nigeria will take.
ReplyDeleteWill Nigeria ever be cleansed of this corruption? Will this must actually die some day? Am afraid.
ReplyDeleteBut again, the national assembly is also guilty. They were the once who approved these ministerial nominees with out proper screening. They compromised their position on ethics and now they are crying. Screened nominee based on party, zone, tribe and not credibility now we are paying the price.
Desmond.
Why are we so ignorant.we are so underdeveloped.if the minister feels that the HR is already biased and it is using this as a political tool .her personality is at stake and she has her fundamental human right to seek redress from court.The first thing is .is does the house has the locus standi to probe a minister.what the house has is over sight function and not to probe .every arm of government has its limits The executive cannot interfere with the legislature and so is the judiciary.The minister is under the executive and the head is the president.so of the house has any querry.it asks to the executive to investigate and report to it and not to adjudicate powers that they don't have .Have you ever heared of Amrrican senate summourning Obamas secretary. No it is Obama they will summon and Obama will answer for his department .The court did what is right and it is left for the House to provr that they have the power to probe the minister. we must follow the rule of law .the minister is not accountable to any body but the presedent and the president answers the house querries.that was what happened in Oduas case.the executive cannot use the probe of the house because is will undermine the independence of the arms of govt .information is power and let us stop pliticising normal procedures
ReplyDeleteI do not see anything wrong in what she did .the court is more competent than the house in these matters.IF SHE IS GUILTY .let the house go and prove ot .why do we trust the house more than the court are they cleaner.they all have their motive but the court will follow the legal procedure .if she is gulty she would not dear go to court but for me the HOR has no locus standy to probe a minister that will be interfering with the independence of the arms of govt .The house has oversight function only and that does not include probing.let them defend it in court if they are right.
ReplyDeleteWhy are we so ignorant.we are so underdeveloped.if the minister feels that the HR is already biased and it is using this as a political tool .her personality is at stake and she has her fundamental human right to seek redress from court.The first thing is .is does the house has the locus standi to probe a minister.what the house has is over sight function and not to probe .every arm of government has its limits The executive cannot interfere with the legislature and so is the judiciary.The minister is under the executive and the head is the president.so of the house has any querry.it asks to the executive to investigate and report to it and not to adjudicate powers that they don't have .Have you ever heared of Amrrican senate summourning Obamas secretary. No it is Obama they will summon and Obama will answer for his department .The court did what is right and it is left for the House to provr that they have the power to probe the minister. we must follow the rule of law .the minister is not accountable to any body but the presedent and the president answers the house querries.that was what happened in Oduas case.the executive cannot use the probe of the house because is will undermine the independence of the arms of govt .information is power and let us stop pliticising normal procedures
ReplyDeleteWhy are we so ignorant.we are so underdeveloped.if the minister feels that the HR is already biased and it is using this as a political tool .her personality is at stake and she has her fundamental human right to seek redress from court.The first thing is .is does the house has the locus standi to probe a minister.what the house has is over sight function and not to probe .every arm of government has its limits The executive cannot interfere with the legislature and so is the judiciary.The minister is under the executive and the head is the president.so of the house has any querry.it asks to the executive to investigate and report to it and not to adjudicate powers that they don't have .Have you ever heared of Amrrican senate summourning Obamas secretary. No it is Obama they will summon and Obama will answer for his department .The court did what is right and it is left for the House to provr that they have the power to probe the minister. we must follow the rule of law .the minister is not accountable to any body but the presedent and the president answers the house querries.that was what happened in Oduas case.the executive cannot use the probe of the house because is will undermine the independence of the arms of govt .information is power and let us stop pliticising normal procedures
ReplyDeletedo you mean that it is the Executive that will checkmate the activities of the Executive according to the constitution of Nigeria?
DeleteSenseless idiot! This country isn't moving forward simply b'cos of low-thinking individuals like you! You don't have to comment please.
DeleteMy prayers are that the matter do not be thrown under the red carpet like others, Amen. let the House or the Court stop making themselves toothless bulldogs.
ReplyDelete