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Nigeria: Power Sector - Probe Panel Under Probe
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This Day (Lagos)
24 July 2008
Posted to the web 24 July 2008
Stanley Nkwazema
Abuja
In what could pass as poetic, the House of Representatives has decided to probe the power probe panel over allegations that the panel members collected a N100 million bribe from one of the contractors.
The House Committee on Power and Steel, led by Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, had been set up by the lower chamber to probe expenditure in the power sector between 1999 and 2007 "without commensurate results".
The rumour had been making the rounds that members of the committee collected the bribe in order to write a favourable report on the contractors during their nationwide tour to assess the projects on ground.
Speaking yesterday, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, the House Speaker, said the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges would investigate the allegation.
He said he was not surprised that a news magazine had accused the members of the committee of collecting N100 million bribe.
The Minority Leader, Hon. Mohammed Ali Ndume, had raised a Point of Order to that effect.
Bankole said: "I hinted on this in address at the inaugural ceremony of the committee. I had no doubt that we were going to be attacked, abused and called all sorts of names, do not be surprised that this kind of thing was coming up.
"All the same, this allegation is going to be investigated by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges. If we are to investigate the public, we must have to go with clean hands.
"I have not said that any member is guilty. But if in the course of our investigations, any member is found guilty, he or she will be dealt with accordingly. What I know is that nothing, I repeat nothing, will stop the report from being laid on the floor of this House."
Ndume said the accusation that the probe committee collected N100 million bribe somewhere in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and shared it among themselves, needed to be investigated.
He told the House that as the person who moved the motion for a probe into the huge sums of money spent on the power sector between 1999 and 2007, he found it difficult to keep quiet while such grave allegations were being made against members of the committee.
"I am concerned that newspapers are alleging N100 million bribe against members of the committee. People have been calling me to ascertain the true position of things concerning these allegations. Let us decide here now on what to do to be able to salvage what is remaining of our reputation," Ndume said.
As controversy continues to trail the panel's report, Bankole has declared that nothing on earth could stop the laying of the report of its committee that carried out the probe on the floor of the House.
He also yesterday swore in Hon. Charles Chinwendu Odedo, who replaced Hon. Obinna Chidoka, the former member representing Idemili North and South federal Constituency of Anambra State, sacked by the Supreme Court on Friday July 11.
He also administered oath to Hon. Uzoma Agbonta, another PDP member from Abia State who also replaced Hon. Emeka Stanley, the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) member representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency of Abia State sacked by the Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt last Monday.
The Speaker also confirmed that President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua had withdrawn a bill seeking the review of Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission Act initially sent to the House for consideration.
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No reason for the withdrawal was given.
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