Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, is considering legal action against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over the ongoing investigation on execution of contracts by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
In a letter on Thursday, he said he was considering the legal option against the minister for his failure to substantiate, within 48 hours, the allegation he made, on Monday, that over 60 per cent of contracts awarded by the NDDC went to the federal lawmakers.
However, Senator Akpabio has denied accusing members of the National Assembly of collecting 60 per cent of the contracts at the NDDC.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, in a separate letter read on the floor of the House during Plenary, on Thursday, said he only referred to 60 per cent during his presentation, on Monday, in response to a question by a member of the House Committee on the NDDC.
He said the reference was a clarification on whether a medical doctor can serve as the NDDC Executive Director Project (EDP), adding that since 50 to 60 per cent of the NDDC contracts were medical related, there was nothing wrong in having a medical doctor serving in that capacity.
He also disclosed that the NDDC EDP forwarded to him a list of 19 outstanding contracts which the chairman of the House Committee on NDDC insisted must be paid before the 2020 budget of the commission can be passed.
He also said the NDDC has not executed any contract under the 2020 budget since it has not been passed, while the 2019 budget was passed in April and has not been implemented.
However, Gbajabiamila insisted: “Last Tuesday, I issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate his allegation that over 60 per cent of contracts awarded by the 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. 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 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 (Majority Leader) 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.”
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