Fuel Subsidy Scam: Reps Suspends Farouk, Accuses Jonathan of Not Doing Much to Fight Corruption
The House of Representatives on Friday suspends Farouk Lawan, adhoc committee Chairman on Oil Subsidy Regime that investigated the fuel subsidy fraud. John Enoh (PDP, Obubra, cross River) was unanimously voted to head the committee. The House also ordered the probe of the former vice Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Hon Boniface Emenalo.
Hon Lawan who is being investigated for receiving $600,000 bribe from an oil magnate , Mr Femi Otedola , Chairman of Zenon Oil to remove Otedola’s company from the list of companies indicted in the fuel subsidy scam report.
The House resumed sitting Friday morning with an opening speech from the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal. In his speech, the Speaker sounded a note of warning to people that were all out to bring the House down on account of what it was doing in sanitising the petroleum sector through the investigation of the subsidy scam. ” The house will not be intimidated or cowed by any form of action to dampen our spirit or break our resolve”, Tambuwal added.
The Speaker enjoined the President to step up his game in fighting corruption and match up his words with much needed action. He emphasised on courage and the need for the President to be courageous in his dealings at the Presidential villa. He also said the House has not compromised and will never compromise. The House later revalidated the recommendation of the committee over fuel subsidy regime and sue for full implementation of it by the Executive and other concerned agencies.
Shortly after his speech, the whole floor of the house chanted “the future man” which should be a thing of worry and concern in the executive arm, even as a vote of confidence was passed on the Honourable Speaker.
With the revalidation of the initial report of the adhoc committee, Zennon Oil owned by Otedola has been included in the amendment as those that collected Subsidy and didn’t import fuel. By the action of the House, zenon Oil and Femi Otedola will further be probed in the fuel subsidy fraud. House adjourned sitting to 19th of June 2012.
