Politics
NDDC Contracts: Reps Set To Drag Akpabio To Court
Tobi Adebayo
Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio intended to gaslight the country with his statement about lawmakers benefitting from Niger Delta Development Commission contracts.
Akpabio had on Tuesday told the House Committee on Niger Delta that NDDC awarded most contracts to members of the House.
Gbajabiamila then issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister, directing him to publish the names of the lawmakers or face the wrath of the House.
Reacting to Akpabio’s silence in a statement on Thursday, Gbajabiamila said a criminal complaint of perjury has been initiated against the Minister.
The statement read: “Last Tuesday I issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate his allegation that over 60% (sixty per cent) of contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) went to members of the National Assembly. I said then that the Honourable Minister owed it to himself and the country to provide evidence to support these serious allegations.
READ ALSO: Who Is After Paul Usoro SAN?
“The Honourable Minister has failed to respond to my request. Therefore, I must conclude that his statement intended solely to gaslight the nation to avoid accountability for the evident maladministration and malfeasance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In my time in the House of Representatives, I have held every leadership position from Minority Whip, through to Minority Leader, Leader of the House and now Speaker.
“I recognise that the House has not always lived up to the high expectations of the Nigerian people. As much as we still have a lot to do in that regard, I refuse to sit here in good conscience and allow anyone to assassinate the character of the House in an attempt to deflect accountability for their conduct in office. Such mendacity as was witnessed at the public hearing will not be tolerated from anybody no matter how highly placed.
“This morning, I asked the Clerk of the House of Representatives to engage the services of legal counsel, and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the Minister. At the same time, we will instruct counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against the Minister.
“The House of Representatives is a public trust placed in our care for the duration of our term in office. We must prove ourselves worthy of this public trust or risk the censure of history. Therefore, we will resist every attempt to undermine this institution, whether such attempts come from within or from outside. This House will live up to the highest expectations of the Nigerian people. This is our commitment, and we will not fail.”