REPS LAMENT AGF, FINANCE MINISTER FRUSTRATING $2.4BN OIL REVENUE PROBE

The House of Representatives adhoc Committee investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in revenue from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil in 2015 had lamented that the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed are not cooperating with the committee.

This is as the committee has again summoned Malami and Ahmed to appear with necessary documents and information that would help in its assignment.

Speaking at the resumed hearing today, chairman of the committee, Mark Gbillah said the committee was not getting the needed cooperation from Malami and Ahmed despite a series of correspondences sent to them.

Gbillah said the committee and the House of Representatives might be forced to invoke their legislative powers to compel the duo and other invited parties to make an appearance should they fail to cooperate.

He explained that the allegations are very weigthy and as a responsible House, fair hearing and a benefit of doubt is owed to citizens, which is what the committee has been seeking to accord those who have been mentioned in these allegations.

He found it uncautionable that the Honourable Minister of Finance and Attorney General of Federation have not bothered to respond to any of the correspondence from the committee, showing a lack of regard not only to the Institution of House but that of the National Assembly as a whole.

Speaking further, he appealed to the  Minister of Finance and the Attorney General of the Federation and all others who have not responded or who have not honoured the Committee’s invitations to do so in the national interest, and in the event that they fail to do so, the house will be constrained to invoke the instrument of summons and all other necessary powers the National Assembly can exercise in this regard.

He urged the Minister of Finance and the Attorney General of the Federation to appear before the committee to give evidence with regard to the allegations that have been laid with regard to the questions the committee has requested for them to answer and to respond to