N628 MILLION CONTRACT SCAM: REPS EXCHANGE BLOWS

Olubunmi Etteh

Hell was let loose at the National Assembly today as members freely exchanged blows over the probe into the scandalous N628 million renovation contract award for the “renovation” of the residences of the Speaker, Honorable Olubunmi Etteh and her deputy Honorable Babangida.

Problem started when the Speaker, Hon. Etteh, who had been summoned by the probe panel to testify before it, arrived the venue. No sooner had the Speaker taken her seat than a member of the Integrity Group of lawmakers spearheading the Etteh Must Go agitation, Hon. Emmanuel Jimeh, started screaming “Ole, Ole” (thief, thief).

Sensing the embarrassment this may cause the Speaker and the entire lower house, the chairman of the House Committee on Information, Daniel Melaye Dino, attempted to shout Jimeh down but the latter continued, thereby prompting other members to intervene, trying to calm Jimeh.

Jimeh did not stop and this resulted in a free-for-all. The crisis brought to an abrupt end, the public hearing, and the Speaker could no longer testify.

Back in the plenary session, Hon. Leo Ogor, while coming under Order 5 of the Ethics and Privileges of the House, moved a motion that the House should refer the matter to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for proper investigation of the causes, the roles of the actors involved, and recommend possible sanctions that could be meted out to those who have brought the House’s integrity into disrepute.

This motion attracted a flurry of contributions from members present at the sitting.

Stanley Ohajirika, the former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, called for caution and resolution among members, including the ad-hoc panelists investigating the contract scandal.

According to Ohajerika: “I see a situation whereby things are getting out of hand and the House must take necessary steps to put it under control.”

Another member, Tam Birisbe, opined that: “Everybody is entitled to a fair hearing. By the act of the member this morning, the honour of this House has been dragged in the mud. Investigations should be referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee for appropriate action.”

Hon. Isa Sha’aba from Niger State on his part, described the act as “unparliamentary” and submitted that the chairman of ad-hoc committee investigating the contract scandal, David Idoko, who was presiding over the committee’s sitting when the fracas broke out, should be called upon to brief the House about what actually transpired before any action is taken.

This led to the Speaker inviting Idoko to brief the House.

But some members shouted Idoko down, thereby throwing the House into another brief rowdy session.

When eventually Idoko was not allowed to say anything, the Speaker put it to vote whether the matter should be referred to the Ethics and Privileges Committee or not. Members overwhelmingly supported the idea through a voice vote of “yes.”

By the resolution, the Ethics and Privileges Committee is expected to investigate the matter and report back to the House within seven days.

Following the fracas this morning, a combined team of security operatives, including anti-riot policemen, have taken over the premises of the National Assembly.

Hundreds of youths carrying different kinds of placards, posters and banners, mostly in support of the speaker, have also stormed the National Assembly.

One of the placards had inscription: “A few selfish rascals are out to blackmail Madam Speaker over juicy committees.”