Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo

Nigerian Governor Escapes Indictment, As Reps Debate On Oil Subsidy Report.

 
The House of Representatives today concluded its debate of the oil subsidy report submitted to it by chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee, Farouk Lawan, as former Accountant-General of the Federation and now Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwabo, escaped indictment.
In the committee’s report, it discovered that the former account-general made a payment of N999m 111 times in one day and 17 times the following day.
It recommended that anti-graft agency like the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, should investigate further and prosecute person(s) who might have benefited from this questionable payment.
While seeking an amendment to the committee’s recommendation number 43 on the matter, Abike Dabiri-Erewa representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency described the committee’s recommendation as mild.
Instead, Dabiri-Erewa suggested an amendment that the former accountant-general should be indicted, even though he is now a state governor.
But Mrs. Uche Ekwunife drew the attention of the House to the fact that such indictment might be an academic exercise.
Another Representative supported Ekwunife, saying that the House may be overstretching its authority.
Shedding more light on the matter, the Ad-Hoc committee chairman, Farouk Lawan said he was in possession of three letters from the office of Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and PPPRA, all clarifying the issue that the PPPRA and not the office of Accountant-General was responsible for the irregular payment.
Subsequently, Dabiri-Erewu’s amendment calling for indictment was jettisoned.
Similarly, Reps approved the committee’s recommendation number 41 that government officials involved in extra-budgetary spending should be sanctioned.
But a heated argument ensued on whether or not the National Assembly should legislate to criminalise extra-budgetary spending.
Most Reps who contributed were of the view that there are existing laws to punish the act.
A few of the committee’s 64 recommendations were deleted; some amended while the committee was given extra period to work.
At the completion of the debate of the oil subsidy report, the chairman, House Committee on Rules and Proceedings moved a motion that the report be served on the President, the Senate and anti-corruption agencies for their information and necessary action. The House unanimously adopted the motion.
Yesterday and today’s sessions were presided over by the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Emeka Ikedioha.