House c’ttee threatens to arrest Magu, NNPC boss, others

*Say non-appearance of agencies stalling probe
Henry Omunu, Abuja

Disturbed by the deliberate refusal of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and other government agencies to obey summons issued by the House of Representatives, members of the House Committee on Public Petitions on Sunday, threatened to apply the law to bring them before the House.

Chairman of the committee, Rep Uzoma Nkem-Aboonta representing Ukwa East/West Federal Constituency,of Abia State, issued the threat while speaking to journalists in Abuja.

Rep. Nkem- Abonta said apart from the EFCC, other agencies that have flagrantly disobeyed the summons of the House include, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Petroleum Product Prices Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

“The non appearance of the EFCC is inhibiting our investigation in the allegations of high handedness and harassment. We can’t stop them from doing their work, but we must ensure that in doing their work, they comply with the rules of engagement and laid down procedures.

“Honestly, we are not having any issues or witch hunting, neither are we trying to prosecute or frustrate the operations of the EFCC. In fact, we want to do everything to encourage them to continue the war against corruption.

“What we are trying to do is to call them, cause there are petitions before the House and which were referred to the committee on public petitions to make fact findings, but severally we have invited the EFCC to come and tell us their own side of the story.

“We have sent them more than seven invitations on various issues but they have deliberately failed to turn up for such invitations.

“We have acknowledgement copies of all our letters and summons to them to come and give us their own side of the story so we can draw a line and advice the House accordingly,” he stated.

Asked if other agencies were guilty of disobeying House summons, Rep. Abonta pointed accusing fingers at the NNPC, PPPRA and DPR, adding that their recalcitrance and attitude has led to many inconclusive investigative hearings by the committee.

Commenting on the leaked memo by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu detailing the irregular contract awarded by the NNPC management without board approval, said the House is worried about these developments.

“We are bothered and worried, but we are not surprised at the leaked letter of the minister of state for petroleum resources to the president on the NNPC boss. Some of these things are subjects of petitions which the NNPC have refused to come to answer to.

“Their absence inhibits our work; it delays our work and makes it inconclusive. Otherwise, we will have to conclude with that of the petitions alone and that is not good as it is against natural justice. So that is why we will use the mechanism of the law to bring them.

“And their non appearance has made the House resolve to seek other lawful means to bring them before the public petitions committee because nobody is above the law, not even the parliament and a creation of parliament cannot also be above the law,” he said.

Rep. Abonta added that the major problem the committee is faced with is that apart from the EFCC, most agencies like the NNPC and the DPR accused of corrupt practices have deliberately refused to answer to the summons issued to them to state their own side of the story.

Our correspondent recalls that the EFCC had last week refused to appear before the House Committee on Public Petitions to explain the role it played when security operatives invaded the property of former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan and based on petitions by her accusing the anti-graft agency of harassment and intimidation.