ABUJA-HOUSE
of Representatives yesterday through its Spokesman, Zakari Mohammed
said the House was still studying an order restraining them from
continuing the probe of an alleged N10billion jet charter services scam
by Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke.
Mohammed
while briefing journalists alongside Public Accounts Committee
Chairman, Adeola Olamilekan said, “we are still studying the order to
know the next line of action to take on the issue”.
“Today the office of the Speaker was sent an order restraining us from continuing with the probe slated for today, Monday”.
“Nigerians
should also know that one of the primary responsibilities of lawmakers
is to fight corruption and we are not deterred about this”.
Also
the House went back on its words that members of its committee on public
accounts presently investigating the minister of petroleum resources,
Allison-Madueke were under threat to back down on its investigation.
Olamilekan
who reacted on whether members of his committee were under pressure
said,”there was no time we were under any pressure to do anything”.
It
would be recalled that the media was awash two weeks ago that there
were threats from the petroleum ministry on
members of the committee
looking into the matter.
Yesterday’s volte face by both Zakari and
Olamilekan therefore rubbished the reports which sources said was
sponsored by the Committee in the first place.
“We had a
resolution of the House and referred this matter to the Public Accounts
Committee. At no point or time has the leadership of the House expressed
fears that they were under any pressure.
” This is not the first
time we are going into this kind of process. It is usual when you are
dealing with the high and mighty for people to presume that you will hit
a brick wall, but we are very, very consistent. “The only way you
can stop us is through a process like the court case that we have
expressed to you which we consider as a temporary setback. We will seek
legal opinion and the House will be advised appropriately.
” This
setback is painful though but we have to obey the laws of the land.
There is nobody that is under pressure, all that was written was based
on speculation, mind you, you were doing your job. For the court order,
we do not know what will happen we are watching” Zakari said.
On
his part the PAC chairman, Olamilekan disclosed “I have not been under
any pressure. I am as okay and ready to go and really prepared to deal
with this”
Zakari in expressing frustrations at the turn of event
noted; “The paper we received is to tell us that they have proceeded to
court, that the matter we want to investigate on; we have gone to court.
If we decide to continue on the matter after the court paper, it
becomes subjudice and contempt of court.
” It is programmed, it
could have come last week but it came same day, today, Monday, when they
were supposed to appear before the committee investigating the matter.
This parliament is a creation of law and we cannot be seen to be
flouting the law”. It would be recalled that the Public Accounts
Committee of the House is investigating expenditure of the minister that
she spent N10bn to charter a jet,Challenger 850 for her trips these past two years.
The
PAC had two weeks ago directed the minister to appear before it
yesterday, April 28 before the court papers put paid to it all
yesterday.
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