Leadership (Abuja)
Philip Nyam And Adesuwa Osunde
19 November 2008
Abuja — A group of lawmakers in the House of Representatives under the platform of Transparency Group, has called for an independent investigation into the allegations of fraud levelled against the leadership by a Lagos lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo, in the purchase of 380 vehicles for committee oversight functions, even as it denied plots to destabilise the leadership of the House.
Meanwhile, the House leadership has cautioned the group to wait for the outcome of the investigations by its committee on ethics and privileges, which has wound up its assignment and was the process of writing a report.
Leader of the Transparency Group, Hon. Tam Brisibe, who addressed the press yesterday alongside six other members of the group, said in view of the fact that Keyamo's allegations had generated much interest, the investigating committee should establish the culpability and complicity of any person involved in the alleged scandal and recommend appropriate sanctions.
Brisibe said his group wanted was a 'thorough, unencumbered and independent investigation into the entire process of the award and execution of the contract be done, adding that Transparency was interested in the alleged payment of double tax on the same contract.
He said the group would want the ethics committee to find out why Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) could not keep to the contractual agreement as regards the specifications and description of the cars ordered and paid for by the House.
The group also demanded that PAN be made to refund the differential in the money paid to her if it is established that there is a difference in price and specifications of cars PAN supplied with the ones ordered by the management of National Assembly.
He further alleged wasteful spending by the leadership and questioned the wisdom behind the purchase of about four bullet proof cars for the speaker's convoy and other sundry expenditures by the leadership.
But in a sharp reaction, the deputy chairman, Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Dambatta Labaran, said the House had taken adequate steps to ensure that nothing was swept under the carpet by mandating its committee on ethics and privileges to investigate the allegations. He advised members of the Transparency Group to wait for the report of the committee which had 'almost concluded its assignment and was in the process of putting down its report'.
Members of the Transparency Group who attended the press briefing were, Independence Ogunewe, Gbenga Oduwaye, Festus Adegoke, Folake Osinowo, Kayode Amosun and Solomon Awhinahwi.
Earlier, some members accused of plots to destabilise the House yesterday denied knowing Comrade Umar Farouk who alleged that they had offered him N1 million to organise press conferences and mobilise civil society groups to protest against the leadership with the intent of discrediting leadership of the House. Those who appeared before the committee were Hon. Independence Ogunewe, Gbenga Oduwaye, Festus Adegoke, Kayode Amosun and Solomon Awhinahwi who are incidentally, members of the Transparency Group.
They all denied in their individual presentations before the investigative committee that they never knew Comrade Farouk Umar nor held any meeting with him at any time. Both also denied knowledge of any plot to discredit or disorganise the House. According to Festus Adegoke; 'I'm not part of those inciting anybody or giving any money to anybody to produce leaflets. I did not meet with anybody.
Hon. Independence Ogunewe, while testifying before the committee, said he had received text messages from different people over the issue.
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