Luka Binniyat and Tordue Salem
31 October 2008
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gbenga Oduwaye (PDP Ijebu North/Ijebu East), is to face the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges over his televised allegations that the decision to purchase 380 official vehicles for 82 Committees of the House was never approved by the general House.
A motion raised by Rep. Godwin Ndudi Elumelu (PDP Aniocha North/Aniocha South/Oshimili North/Oshimili South-Delta State) bordering on privilege, made reference to a statement made by Rep. Oduwaye on the African Independent Television yesterday morning.
Elumelu, after pointing the House to the Oduwaye scenario, said: "I am worried that some of my colleagues, instead of presenting their case on the car purchase to the appropriate Committee for investigations, are going outside the House to discredit a decision of the House.
Elumelu, then called on the House to order its Committee on Ethics and Privileges, to look into the matter.
Also responding to the issue, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rep. Muhammed Ali Ndume, in a veiled rebuttal, adviced his colleagues who may be behind the controversy on the purchase of the cars, to note that there can only be one Speaker at a time.
He however recalled his earlier warning to the Leadership of the House to give every member a sense of belonging and make everybody know that we are one. But that there cannot be two Speakers. If somebody cannot accept that there cannot be only one Speaker at a time, then there is a problem.
Rep. Dino Melaye (PDP Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu-Kogi State), in his contribution to the issue concluded that it was a mere witch-hunt on the part of some of his colleagues, that he thinks have selfish motives.
He recalled that the decision on the cars, had been taken last year with the consent of all members, but was surprised that some people (members) are engaged in malicious attacks on the integrity of the House.
Rep. Sani Abdul (PDP Alkaleri/Kirfi-Bauchi) had on Tuesday raised a similar motion generalizing on attacks on the integrity of the House, praying the House to lay the matter to rest.
Citing Order 5 Rule 1(2)(8), the Member had urged the House to take the matter very seriously to save the image of the House.
$B!H (BI earnestly urged this Honourable House to do all it can do to settle this problem once and for all in the name of transparency and the trust which the Nigerian people put unto us $B!I (B, he said.
The Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Dimeji Bankole, reminded the House that all allegations on the purchase were being considered by the Ethics and Privileges Committee.
Asking $B!H (Banyone who has concrete and incontrovertible evidence on the matter to please forward it to the Ethics and Privilege Committee for investigation $B!I (B.
It could be recalled that Mr. Festus Keyamo, a lawyer, had on October 19, 2008 written the House of Representatives alleging lack of transparency in the supply of 380 units of 407 Comfort, Automatic Peugeot cars at a total cost of N2.359 billion to House of Reps by its leadership.
The matter had almost degenerated on Wednesday to fisticuffs between the Ethics and Privileges Committee and Mr. Keyamo who insisated the House must account for discrepancies in the purchase of the cars.
$B!H (BThe Integrity Group $B!I (B, comprising of resourceful lawmakers, in the House had on the same Tuesday thrown its weight behind the resolution of the House to refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee, adding that nobody would be covered.
The Group also said it has no problem with Petitioner taking the matter to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), saying both bodies have constitutional powers to investigate the matter to a logical conclusion.
Addressing journalists after the House of Reps sitting, the Chairman of the Group, Rep. Farouk Lawan said his group still stood by transparency, rule of law and accountability in the running of Government business in the Country.
$B!H (B I know you are aware that he (Festus Keyamo) has taken his petition to the EFCC and he has also distributed it to us $B!I (B, he said.
$B!H (BOur position on this matter is very clear $B!I (B, he told the Press, $B!H (BWe believe that the House of Reps is more than anyone of us. We believe that the credibility and credibility of the House of Reps as an institution should be paramount on the mind of each and everyone of us in the National Assembly. And it is for this same reason that we say what we said about one year ago when similar allegations were raised.
We do not believe at this stage that anyone is guilty at this stage. But that it is important for the matter to be properly investigated so that Nigerians can once again continue to have confidence in the National Assembly and in their representatives.
$B!H (BWe want to say that the resolution raised by the House of Representatives which refers the matter to the Ethics and Privilege Committee is quite in order. This will allow the matter to be thoroughly investigated. Ours is to ensue that the process of investigation and its outcome is done in a manner that satisfy all Nigerians.
$B!H (BWe have absolute confidence in the Committee to discharge its responsibility. We also have confidence in the institution of the EFCC. We will support it to discharge its constitutional responsibly in a manner that will lay to rest the issue of graft that bedevils our country $B!I (B, he maintained.
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