Reps summon Okonjo-Iweala, Adeosun for alleged breach of Procurement Act

Nigeria’s House of Representatives has invited present and immediate past finance ministers, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala respectively, to appear before it over alleged abuse and breach of the 2007 Procurement Act.

They are to appear on Tuesday before the House committee on Public Procurement.

Also invited are former Head of Service (HoS), Mr Steve Otunla and former Accountant-General to the Federation (AGF), Mr Jonah Otunla.

Earlier last Thursday, the committee had summoned Adeosun and some others over alleged payment of N17billion to five firms believed to be ghost companies as consultancy fees.

But during an investigative hearing on Monday in Abuja, the committee argued that inviting the top officials was to make sure that proper investigations are carried out.

Issuing the order for the summon, the committee chairman, Oluwole Oke
read the Riot Act to all Ministers and Accounting Officers of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“The shortest way to Kuje prison is through breach of procurement laws,” Oke said.

At the hearing on Monday, the lawmakers frowned at the discrepancies between the submissions made by Federal Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The lawmakers observed that out of the 12 pre-shipment inspectors and two monitors, who benefited from the N17billion, seven were appointed in line with due process while five were appointed through the back
door.

Read also: Those who looted Nigeria funds in media war with anti-corruption agencies –Osinbajo

The chairman who called for overhaul of the entire process, noted that a former governor of Bauchi State and a former member of the House of Representatives, who were part of those who promulgated the procurement law were sentenced to five years imprisonment for infractions.

He further said that a former Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) chairman was also sentenced to two years imprisonment for breaching the Procurement Act before the Supreme Court intervened.

Oke therefore called on the summoned stakeholders to bring before the
committee Presidential Approvals, Letters of Awards, Agreements signed with the contractors and performance records.

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now