Reps, presidency head for showdown over fraud in NEMA

• We’ll proceed with probe of alleged fraud, suspension of NEMA directors- Committee
• Osinbajo can send anybody to represent him- Hon Agbonayinma
• No, EFCC is probing fraud allegations involving suspended NEMA directors – Presidency
The House of Representatives and the Presidency are heading for a showdown over the alleged multi-billion Naira fraud in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the suspension of some directors of the agency by the Presidency.

Briefing House correspondents on Tuesday, some members of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness led by Hon Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonayinma (APC/Edo), said that the committee would proceed with its probe as against the position of the Presidency that the matter is being handled.

The Daily Times recalls that the Presidency and the House committee have been engaged in a war-of-words with the Presidency declaring that the directors were suspended following an inquest and that the matter was ongoing just as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the fraud allegations.

But Hon Agbonayinma has denying media reports that the suspended directors petitioned the House, hence the investigation, saying that the suspension of the said directors was mentioned by the NEMA Director General, Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja.

Based on this, Agbonayinma said the committee sought to know if the suspension followed due process since the same directors are witnesses in the ongoing investigation been conducted by the House.

He said, “We’ve also observed with dismay, the ongoing campaign of calumny sponsored to pitch the House against the Presidency, especially Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

“The vice president’s only involvement is because according to the law establishing NEMA, Section 2, sub-section 2(a), the Vice President is the chairman of the governing council.

“Notwithstanding the provision of Section 89 of the constitution as amended, which empowers the National Assembly to invite any person to appear before it, or its committee during investigations.

“The committee resolved that the Vice President can send anybody to represent him considering his busy schedules.

“This committee will leave no stone unturned until we unearth the truth. We’ll also not shield any public officer who soils their hands no matter how highly or lowly placed.

“We want to state unequivocally that no amount of blackmail or campaign of calumny will deter or prevent us from conducting this investigation,” Agbonayinma added.

He enumerated why the House is conducting the investigation to include the release of N9 billion for food intervention in the North East, release of N1.6 billion for Libya returnees, another N1.6 billion released for food intervention for 16 states, donation of 6,779 metric tonnes of rice by China, payment of N800 million demurrange on the donated Chinese rice and an unaccounted N10 billion released to NEMA from the Ecological Fund.