Reps furious over probe reports, N2b unspent cash 6/2/2009



From Yusuf Alli, Onyedi Ojiabor and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja

Members of the House of Representatives yesterday had a stormy session with their Speaker, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, and other principal officers over some outstanding reports.
But the House leadership survived a plot which was allegedly hatched by the Speaker’s opponents.

The House had barely retired into an Executive Session when members began to protest against alleged refusal of the leadership to present pending critical reports on investigations conducted by some committees.

Besides, they were reportedly angry that the leadership returned to the treasury N2.1 billion unspent funds.

The Executive Session is always held behind closed doors to enable members rub minds with their leaders.

A source, who pleaded for anonymity, said: "We had hardly started the meeting when tempers rose on why outstanding reports were being shielded from members.

"Amidst a shouting match, members demanded for reports on Power Probe, Finance and Oil Sector, and Ethics and Privileges findings on N2.3billion car deal, among others."

In fact, Hon. Independence Ogunnewe cited Section 88 of the 1999 Constitution to buttress the fact that the House is statutorily empowered to conduct such investigations, said the source.

"Members, therefore, asked the Speaker to make available the reports to all stakeholders. They also wanted the reports brought forward for debate in the next one week or two."

The House leadership said the debate of the reports was delayed by the 2009 Budget, but members were adamant on their demand.

"After frayed nerves were calmed, the House mandated its Committee on Rules and Business to list the reports for debate."

It was, however, learnt that the House might await the report of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the N2.3billion car deal before debating the findings of its committee on the alleged scam.

Another source also confirmed that there was tension at the Executive Session over the deduction from the January pay of overdraft taken by some members from banks to celebrate last Eid-el Kabir Festival and Christmas.

He said: "Some members were furious that the funds were deducted at once from their January salary without much left to survive.

"They were furious because the House guaranteed that the funds would be repaid by its members.

"They felt the House leadership ought to have intervened by ensuring a gradual reduction of the overdraft from their salary instead of being in one fell swoop.

"But the position of the House was that taking soft loans or overdraft is a personal finance decision of members and there is little the leadership could do about it.

"I think next time; members will negotiate the terms of soft loans/overdraft before applying for same."

The Speaker, who cut short his trip to London and returned home to douse the tension, said the House leadership meant well and had nothing to hide.

Bankole, who had spoken with some members on Wednesday, appeared at the House session yesterday.

His reappearance reportedly caught his opponents unawares.

The Speaker was said to have reminded members of their busy schedule on the 2009 budget and other oversight functions.

It was learnt that the Speaker renewed his pledge that the House leadership would not betray the confidence reposed in it.

A source said: "Following the Speaker’s reassurance, members calmed down and engaged in backslapping with normalcy returning to the chamber".

It was learnt that Ogunnewe pleaded that the House should "be able to act together and be part of every decision".

Before members’ embraced peace, it was gathered that some of them had engaged in many covert meetings on how to deal with their leadership.

According to findings, the aggrieved members had wanted the House leadership to step aside.

It was gathered that a caucus in the House was already shopping for Bankole’s successor from Osun State.

A source said the search committee had zeroed in on Gbenga Olugbodi and Ayo Adeseun, who were said not to be ready to be used to displace Bankole.

Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs Mr. Eseme Eyiboh said: "The Executive Session was a frank and brotherly one. Even though members engaged in shouting match, at the end of the day, we all shook hands to prepare for the days ahead.

"The House Committee on Rules and Business will handle how all the reports will be presented."

On the floor of the House, tempers rose over alleged failure of the leadership of the House to list the reports for consideration.

Some of the pending reports include the Hon. Ndudi Elumelu-led Power probe report, the Hon. Igo Aguma led adhoc committee on oil sector report and the Finance Committee report on unspent funds.

The bickering in the House started around 11.15 am when Speaker Dimeji Bankole, called for the adoption of the Votes and Proceedings of Wednesday.

A member of the House, Hon. Solomon Ahwinahwi, (Delta State) without being recognised, drew Bankole’s attention to the fact that the Votes and Proceedings and the Order Paper were not circulated.

Bankole asked him to sit down since the issue was already being addressed.

Besides, he reminded him that he was not recognised to speak.

But Ahwinahwi insisted on being heard.

It was obvious that Bankole did not find Ahwinahwi’s outburst amusing and he demonstrated that by his countenance.

The drama drew the anger of other members who joined Bankole to prevail on Ahwinahwi to take his seat.

When Ahwinahwi was persuaded to sit down, Bankole fished out a petition from the State Security Service (SSS), which alleged that Ahwinahwi assaulted an SSS operative.

Bankole instructed Ahwinahwi to meet him immediately after the plenary.

Thereafter, there was murmuring. Members were whispering to one another.

To douse tension, Bankole asked the House Leader, Hon. Tunde Akogun, to move a motion for the House to go into Executive Session.

After the Executive Session, the Minority Leader of the House, Hon. Mohammed Ndume, moved Order 5 (1) to draw the attention of the House to the Power probe report, which has been on the shelf for over one year.

Ndume said that he had made several attempts to obtain a copy of the report to no avail.

Banokole interjected and asked whether members had received the controversial report. The majority of the members chorused "No!"

Bankole wanted to know from the Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Elumelu, why the reported had not been circulated.

Elumelu shifted the blame to the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Ita Enang.

Besides, members complained that they had not received the report of the Adhoc Committee on the oil sector and that on unspent funds.

Bankole said he was concerned that the reports were yet to get to members.

He directed that copies be given to members to enable them prepare their contributions when the reports would be considered.

He also hinted that the reports would be listed for consideration "some time in February and March."

Enang assured members that copies of the Power probe report would be made available to them next week.

Shortly after that, Bankole left the chamber, paving the way for the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Usman Nafada, to mount the saddle.

Another source who was at the Executive Session said that some members raised the capital vote of the House and the N2.1 billion the House leadership reportedly returned as unspent funds.

Other members were also said to have raised the N4 million advanced to some members before 2008 Christmas break.

Yet other members were said to have raised the issue of the probe of the N2.3 billion Peugeot car purchase.

Some members were said to have demanded to know why the leadership of the House returned N2.1 billion as unspent capital funds and how the amount spent was used.

He said that some members wanted to know how the House capital budget of about N9 billion was spent.

The source said that some members expressed deep concern that they were being asked to refund the N4 million advance they collected.

Eyiboh and Enang, confirmed that the House actually returned N2.1 billion capital votes as unspent funds.

Enang said that though some members expressed concern over the issue, the letter that indicated that the money was returned was shown to members.

Enang also said that another issue that featured in the Executive Session was how the Power probe report would be handled.

He said that it was agreed that the report should be distributed to members two weeks before it would be listed for discussion.

He said that the oil sector probe report had been circulated to members but those who did not get would be given.

On the N4 million advance, he said that it was an overdraft given to members who requested for it and that it had nothing to do with the leadership of the House.

Enang assured that all reports, including the car probe report, would be received and considered by the House.

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