Reps make U-turn on Islamic Banking


The House of Representatives yesterday said contrary to reports, it has not endorsed the introduction of Islamic Banking in the country.

The House clarification came on a day the Anambra State Government wrote a protest letter to the Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over the claim by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that the state had already obtained a loan from the Islamic Development Bank.

The lawmakers noted that rather than okay Islamic Banking, the House would soon review Sanusi’s presentation on the matter to enable it to take a position on it.

Members of the lower chamber were said to have been jolted over widespread report that the House endorsed the contentious Islamic Banking being proposed by the CBN.

To underscore the gravity of the situation, the House quickly dissolved into a closed door session to trash out issues arising from the appearance of the CBN Governor in the House on July 22.

The secret meeting, which lasted over one hour, was said to have been "charged", while emotions took the better part of deliberations.

A source at the closed door meeting said members demanded to know why they were not allowed to ask the CBN Governor questions after his presentation.

The source said the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, who presided, seized the opportunity to explain to members why it became necessary not allow members to ask the CBN Governor questions.

He said Ihedioha told members that he did not want the issues raised by Sanusi to divide the House.

He said when a member drew the attention of the House to the barrage of attacks directed at the House over the way it handled Sanusi’s presentation on the floor of the House, Ihedioha said: "Members of this House should be very mindful of our responsibilities. We should not allow ourselves to be distracted by issues arising from the appearance of the CBN Governor. This morning, we had useful discussion in our Executive Session and members were satisfied."

Also speaking on the issue at a press conference, Chairman, House ad-hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, of the House, Opeyemi Bamidele, said members dwelt on issues arising from Sanusi’s appearance at the closed door meeting.

　 He noted that members discovered efforts to draw conclusions that the House endorsed Islamic Banking as proposed by the CBN Governor.

　 Bamidele, however, declared: "The House has not by any means and on whatever grounds whatsoever endorsed Islamic Banking."

He said Sanusi was invited by the House to offer explanation on two issues, cash withdrawal limit and Islamic Banking.

Meanwhile, the Anambra State Government protest letter entitled, ‘’Response to the statement by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria-Mallam Lamido Sanusi on Islamic Banking and Anambra State" was presented by Rep. Uche Ekwunife.

It read in part: "We write in response to the statement credited to the CBN Governor on the floor of the National Assembly that Anambra State was the first that obtained a loan from Islamic Development Bank. Anambra State did not at any time take any loan from Islamic Development Bank."

It said some time in 2007/2008, the state was one of the three qualifying states including Yobe and Gombe, for support from the Federal Government under the National Programme for Food Security Expansion Phase Support Project.

"As a qualifying state based on established criteria, the Federal Government earmarked funds for on-lending to the three qualifying states for the purpose of assisting in the financing of this project in the states.

"The responsibility for identifying the source and the sourcing of such funding is and has remained　 that of the Federal Government, who could have obtained such funds from either Islamic Development Bank or any other bank and from anywhere for that matter," it said.

　 The letter said : "It is, therefore, important to put the records straight　sthat at no time in the recent foreseeable history of Anambra State had the state approached Islamic Development Bank for any facility or financing of any sort."



http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/business/13722-reps-make-u-turn-on-islamic-banking.html

Sanusi lying through his teeth,

now i think they are making some sense cos many thing is at stake here in naija,