N10bn Jet Probe: Nobody Can Stop Us, Says House
House of Representatives has no plans whatsoever to soft-pedal or jettison the probe of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, on her alleged use of private jets that were chartered and maintained by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the cost of N10 billion.
The House Committee Chairman, Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (APC, Kwara), stated this yesterday while responding to inquiries by THISDAY that some of the members were dissatisfied with the decision by the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to terminate the investigation.
According to Mohammed, who is also a member of the House Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that is directly responsible for the investigation, there might be a little setback on the matter, but it would certainly be carried out.
“We are still studying the notice paper served on us by the Abuja High Court. What is happening now is a temporary setback. We will re-visit the probe and do justice to it,” Mohammed said.
“Indeed, the speaker too, if you recall had said at plenary last month that nothing would halt the probe. And on our part, PAC has written to some other agencies to give their own submissions in anticipation of the commencement of this business soonest,” he explained.
Mohammed dismissed a recent report by a newspaper that some legislators were bribed with $3 million, others $1.5 million and $1 million respectively. He said the report was in bad taste and in the realm of speculation.
“It is a collection of information that is not true. Anybody who makes such weighty allegations must provide the proof. He must name names, state how much was given to each person and tender the purpose for which such bribe was given,” the lawmaker said, stressing, “Nobody can stop that probe.”
Attempts to get the reaction of the Speaker on the matter did not yield any result, as his Special Adviser, Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, did not respond to questions sent to him.
However, there are unconfirmed allegations that the speaker took steps to frustrate the probe because he was confronted with “proof” of his use of chartered jets that might have cost several billions of naira, and was not comfortable with what could be revealed if the House proceeded with the probe.
PAC was supposed to have on April 28 resumed investigation into the charter of the Challenger 850 aircraft leased by Vistajet.
But the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC had gone to court seeking an interim injunction to stop the probe.
Although the injunction has not been granted by the court, the House, for inexplicable reasons, has shied away from proceeding with the probe.
Instructively, the House two months ago had ignored a court ruling that asked the 37 lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC) to vacate their seats.
It had also queried the jurisdiction of the court to interfere in the processes of the legislative chamber, citing separation of powers.
Surprisingly, the same House that dismissed a ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on the defected lawmakers, was more than eager, citing the rule of law, to comply with a non-existent injunction on the probe of the charter of aircraft for the personal use of Alison-Madueke.
Similarly, two invitations to the House by the judge hearing the suit instituted by the minister and NNPC, asking the lower legislative chamber to provide evidence of the order by his court stopping the probe have been ignored.
Efforts to get the reaction of the PAC chairman, Hon. Adeola Solomon Olamilekan (APC, Lagos), were also not successful.
Culled from THISDAY
