Three senators, Ahmed Lawan, Ali
Ndume and Kabir Marafa, clashed on Tuesday over an ad hoc committee set up to
probe a “$3.5 billion subsidy fund” belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC).
Biodun Olujimi, senate minority
leader, had sponsored a motion on the need to probe the subsidy recovery fund
being “managed by two people”.
Reacting to the allegation, Ndume
said the committee on downstream chaired by Marafa should have known about the
fund.
The senator said the committee
“might have been compromised”.
“Let us take the matter as it
comes into the senate seriously because issues like this when raised should be
looked at. I think the committee is not doing its oversight and when all these
things happen, the committee is supposed to know,” he said.
“So I am suggesting that Marafa
being the chairman of that committee should be out of this and the committee
members too.”
But Marafa protested the
allegation, saying: “I equally have no offence with the submission of senator
Ali Ndume. But I have serious exception when he said that the committee
compromised.
“Let it be on record that this
senate split the committee into two of public account to look into this issue
of subsidy while the downstream sector was given the responsibility of looking
into the volumes on this same matter.
“For somebody to come out and say
with due respect, that I am managing subsidy programme, that is incorrect. Let
all these committees including the ones held by some people before now be
suggested to scrutiny. I have no problem with that but for this senate to now
leave another ad hoc committee to look into the issue of subsidy, it’s like
some people are looking for campaign money and I don’t think that’s the best
way to get it.”
Ndume responded by saying that he
was only echoing what Bukar Abba Ibrahim, a Yobe senator, had said.
“The suggestion was a very honest
one. The offence should go to my senior, senator Bukar Abba. When I was
speaking, senator Bukar Abba said the committee might have been compromised and
I reported the same. I apologise,” he said.
After the motion was adopted by
the lawmakers, it was resolved that an ad hoc will be set up to probe the fund.
Senate President Bukola Saraki
said Lawan will be on the committee.
But Lawan said he holds his
integrity “dearly” and would not want it damaged.
“Therefore I decline. Let me also
advise us that this senate is a representative of Nigeria. We are here for all
Nigerians. What we do and how we conduct ourselves is a big deal,” he said.
“I would advise that no matter
how sternly and deeply please let conduct ourselves with the respect we are
known for. Mr. President, Thank you for the confidence but I am not going to
serve in this committee.”
The senate president, however, insisted
that Lawan cannot exclude himself from a leadership role.
He said: “You cannot excuse
yourself from the rule of leadership. Why I directed or decided you should be
there is because the matter is a matter that is very weighty and it is better
to do that under the leader of the senate. I don’t want something partisan.”
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