The lawmaker member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Linus Okorie, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly call Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state to order on the purported appointment of two foreign forensic audit firms to look into federal government revenue generating agencies from 2010 to 2015.
In a statement in Abakaliki, Mr. Okorie observed that neither the Mr. Oshiomohole-led National Executive Council Adhoc Committee on Excess Crude Accounts and Remittances to the Federation Account nor the NEC itself has the power under the constitution to make the purported appointments.
He also stated that even if they had the legal authority, the said appointment is contrary to the clear provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007, adding that the NEC created under the part 1 of the third schedule 1999 constitution (as amended) is merely an advisory body to the President and has no authority to enter into contractual obligations on behalf of the government of the federation.
He said: “Specifically, the section provides that the National Economic Council shall have power to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the co- ordination of the economic planning efforts or economic programmes of the various Governments of the Federation.
“Section 17 of the Public Procurement Act clearly defines the approving authorities for all procurements by the federal government as Tenders Board and a Ministerial Tender Board. Therefore, clearly and unambiguously, the NEC cannot by any stretch of the imagination be construed as an approving authority under the Act,” said Mr. Okorie.
The lawmaker also stated that the appointment announced by Governor Oshiomole is in contravention of sections 19, 20, 44 to 47 of the Public Procurement Act 2007 with respect to procurement plans, implementation and the engagement of precise and ascertainable consultants.
He pointed out that the Committee did not go through the acceptable procurement procedures in arriving at the appointment announced by Governor Oshiomhole.
He outlined the procedure to include publication in national and international newspapers, expression of interest, pre-qualification, open competitive bids, stakeholder observation and related transparency procedures.
While supporting every legitimate effort by the president in recovering looted assets, Mr. Okorie cautioned against any resort to extra legal means of engagement no matter how attractive that may seem.
He reiterated the call by Mathew Kukah on President Buhari to act within the confines of the law in his quest for loot recovery, and more importantly not to lose focus of his responsibility for good governance.
“President Buhari must avoid any extra legal means, no matter how attractive and populist it may seem. He must remain conscious of the legal maxim that in a democracy, it’s better for 10 offenders to escape justice than one innocent person to suffer injustice”.
Mr. Okorie called on President Buhari to act swiftly by calling Governor Oshiomole and his Committee to order by cancelling the purported appointment, which he said has sent wrong signals on the government to abide by the rule of law.
“While it is within the government’s legitimate mandate to appoint the said forensic auditors, it must be done by the proper authority and within the ambits of law. Anything to the contrary is both illegal and illegitimate”. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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We are in a mess. When has Adams become knowlegble in financial matters. What I am discovering in this APC lead govt is. that there's a scramble on who can out do each other in ditching unsubstantiated revelation about Jonathan's govt. It's unbelievablely true they are using that president's lack of preparedness to gain his favour thereby putting the president to ridicule. Does it mean the president don't know the terms of loan. the China Eximbank granted to Nigeria which Okonjo Iweala explained. The president has to thread softly on his numerous accusation & lamentations about PDP government. Soon people will begin to loose interest in all these Oshiomole revelations
ReplyDeleteWho is this anonymous Okonji Iweala apologist cum columnist.
DeleteThe country's economy has been plundered and all you are interested in is personal attacks on a Patriotic individual who is brave enough to attempt ensuring we recover at least a substantial amount of the looted funds.
Is it not public knowledge that Okonji Iweala is disappointingly exceedingly weak in curbing atrocities being committed by either her superiors or even those that are close to her. She is even not principled nor brave enough to call her own relatives to order when found misbehaving or culpable in government related matters.
This anonymous Okonji Iweala apologist cum columnist obviously lack understanding in the true meaning of responsible cum accountable leadership.
God almighty knows you, your name and your lineage. That God will judge you and your lineage forever. May your sins forever be remembered and never be forgotten.
U must not abuse....just state ur point with facts dats all....
Deletepatriotic individual indeed!!!!!!!!!!. Oshiomhole just tryingto please Buhari to justify the 75 million dollars he dashed to him to plunder. Since the coming of this government, all the accussation have not been proven even once!. so instead of coming to the press to misinform Nigerians, publish the records and documents for all to see afterall, you have unlimited access to all records. today, jonathan government was siphoning 1 billion barrels illagal, tomorrow, one minister alone looted 6 billion dollars, another day it is 250 thousand barrels that are illegally bunkered, yet another day, loans for Lagos-kano rail line diverted when none was even taken for such rail project which, one are we to believe?
DeleteIdiot. instead this fool to state his useless points if any, he spent all his worthless time lamenting about Okonji Iweala apologist cum columnist, what a dirty pig!
Delete@ anonymous 2:44, did u actually read the article? Doing the right thing the wrong way is wrong. It obvious u are one of those who just want people to be indicted just because newspapers said so. Ranting and cursing people won't do u any good. I bet u, in few months u will regret dis ur comments
DeleteWhy not rep call fayose in order?
ReplyDeleteWhy not you call Fayose to order fool.
ReplyDeleteAdams Oshiomole, though from Edo State, is not a BINI man. The Bini's are courageous and endowed with a lot of wisdom. I am not surprised at his utterances lately.
ReplyDeleteare you sure you mean Oshiomhole, is not courageous? Nigerians are really suffering from this 16 years of Miss-rule..... for me I can see real progress, no more talk about Subsidies like during the time of Okonjo Iweala because our Refineries are now producing locally, we have improved electricity supply and we are now generating 5000MW, equally too we Nigerians now know that the real civil servants like permanent secretaries can perform the jobs of ministers and be paid their monthly salaries this has saved a lot of running cost... this is progress...we can abused for all I care but one thing I know about Nigeria is that we are watching how events are unfolding for just 2 months 21 days this man has achieved what others could not do for 16 years..... we can see a lot of played agents online like what I use to be, and unfortunately too I did not vote for Buhari I must confess without prejudice in the last presidential election, I voted for Jonathan but I wish the next election is tomorrow....... thank you Buhari
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