Breaking: Alison-Madueke Gets Injunction Stopping Reps From N10billion Jet Probe
Nigeria’s embattled petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has secured a court injunction ordering the House of Representatives to discontinue an ongoing investigation of how the minister allegedly squandered more than N10billion of public funds leasing private jets for two years.
A federal court in Abuja restrained the House, its committees or representatives from summoning Mrs. Alison-Madueke or requesting that she produce papers, documents or give evidence relating to the jet spending.
The presiding judge, A. R. Mohammed, also barred the lawmakers from ordering the minister’s arrest for failing to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is probing the allegation.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke is accused of spending billions of naira for the services of private jets she deployed for mostly personal trips. State oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, supervised by the minister, has absolved the minister of wrongdoing.
As petroleum minister, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been repeatedly investigated by the National Assembly. Multiple reports have blamed the minister for either maladministration, corruption or violation of the law.
A key probe which found the minister wanting was the 2012 fuel subsidy inquiry which exposed how the government spent more than N2 trillion subsidizing petrol in one year when actual subsidy cost was less than N500 billion. There is also the recent allegation of missing $20 billion oil funds.
Amid the charges, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also drawn praise for ensuring a year-round availability of petrol, a significant achievement in Nigeria’s notoriously corrupt oil sector. Yet, that achievement recently ebbed with fuel
shortage across the country lasting months.
The latest allegation against Mrs. Alison-Madueke came March 20 in a motion presented by a member of the House of Representatives, Samuel Adejare, accusing the minister of committing about 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain an aircraft for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations showed government funds were used for financing the deal. Preliminary investigation by the House public accounts committee showed more than one aircraft was involved.
Some lawmakers on the committee have spoken of pressure on them to suspend the investigation and a planned public hearing that has already been delayed by the minister’s refusal to attend.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also refused to submit required documents related to the spending, ahead of a public hearing.
The court injunction which is dated April 14 but only made public Monday, ordered the House not to summon the minister or ask her to provide any documents relating to the jet scandal. The court order was emailed by the NNPC to reporters late Monday.
Ohi Alegbe, a spokesperson for the NNPC, who also speaks for the minister, told PREMIUM TIMES the injunction was earlier served on the House two weeks back. He said the House may have deliberately kept the papers from the public.
But the chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Solomon Olamilekan, said he was surprised the minister waited until Monday- the scheduled day of the commencement of the investigation- before coming up with a court order, giving the impression the court document had just been served.
Source:premiumtimes
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
A federal court in Abuja restrained the House, its committees or representatives from summoning Mrs. Alison-Madueke or requesting that she produce papers, documents or give evidence relating to the jet spending.
The presiding judge, A. R. Mohammed, also barred the lawmakers from ordering the minister’s arrest for failing to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is probing the allegation.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke is accused of spending billions of naira for the services of private jets she deployed for mostly personal trips. State oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, supervised by the minister, has absolved the minister of wrongdoing.
As petroleum minister, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been repeatedly investigated by the National Assembly. Multiple reports have blamed the minister for either maladministration, corruption or violation of the law.
A key probe which found the minister wanting was the 2012 fuel subsidy inquiry which exposed how the government spent more than N2 trillion subsidizing petrol in one year when actual subsidy cost was less than N500 billion. There is also the recent allegation of missing $20 billion oil funds.
Amid the charges, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also drawn praise for ensuring a year-round availability of petrol, a significant achievement in Nigeria’s notoriously corrupt oil sector. Yet, that achievement recently ebbed with fuel
shortage across the country lasting months.
The latest allegation against Mrs. Alison-Madueke came March 20 in a motion presented by a member of the House of Representatives, Samuel Adejare, accusing the minister of committing about 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain an aircraft for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations showed government funds were used for financing the deal. Preliminary investigation by the House public accounts committee showed more than one aircraft was involved.
Some lawmakers on the committee have spoken of pressure on them to suspend the investigation and a planned public hearing that has already been delayed by the minister’s refusal to attend.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also refused to submit required documents related to the spending, ahead of a public hearing.
The court injunction which is dated April 14 but only made public Monday, ordered the House not to summon the minister or ask her to provide any documents relating to the jet scandal. The court order was emailed by the NNPC to reporters late Monday.
Ohi Alegbe, a spokesperson for the NNPC, who also speaks for the minister, told PREMIUM TIMES the injunction was earlier served on the House two weeks back. He said the House may have deliberately kept the papers from the public.
But the chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Solomon Olamilekan, said he was surprised the minister waited until Monday- the scheduled day of the commencement of the investigation- before coming up with a court order, giving the impression the court document had just been served.Nigeria’s embattled petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has secured a court injunction ordering the House of Representatives to discontinue an ongoing investigation of how the minister allegedly squandered more than N10billion of public funds leasing private jets for two years.
A federal court in Abuja restrained the House, its committees or representatives from summoning Mrs. Alison-Madueke or requesting that she produce papers, documents or give evidence relating to the jet spending.
The presiding judge, A. R. Mohammed, also barred the lawmakers from ordering the minister’s arrest for failing to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is probing the allegation.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke is accused of spending billions of naira for the services of private jets she deployed for mostly personal trips. State oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, supervised by the minister, has absolved the minister of wrongdoing.
As petroleum minister, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been repeatedly investigated by the National Assembly. Multiple reports have blamed the minister for either maladministration, corruption or violation of the law.
A key probe which found the minister wanting was the 2012 fuel subsidy inquiry which exposed how the government spent more than N2 trillion subsidizing petrol in one year when actual subsidy cost was less than N500 billion. There is also the recent allegation of missing $20 billion oil funds.
Amid the charges, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also drawn praise for ensuring a year-round availability of petrol, a significant achievement in Nigeria’s notoriously corrupt oil sector. Yet, that achievement recently ebbed with fuel
shortage across the country lasting months.
The latest allegation against Mrs. Alison-Madueke came March 20 in a motion presented by a member of the House of Representatives, Samuel Adejare, accusing the minister of committing about 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain an aircraft for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations showed government funds were used for financing the deal. Preliminary investigation by the House public accounts committee showed more than one aircraft was involved.
Some lawmakers on the committee have spoken of pressure on them to suspend the investigation and a planned public hearing that has already been delayed by the minister’s refusal to attend.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also refused to submit required documents related to the spending, ahead of a public hearing.
The court injunction which is dated April 14 but only made public Monday, ordered the House not to summon the minister or ask her to provide any documents relating to the jet scandal. The court order was emailed by the NNPC to reporters late Monday.
Ohi Alegbe, a spokesperson for the NNPC, who also speaks for the minister, told PREMIUM TIMES the injunction was earlier served on the House two weeks back. He said the House may have deliberately kept the papers from the public.
But the chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Solomon Olamilekan, said he was surprised the minister waited until Monday- the scheduled day of the commencement of the investigation- before coming up with a court order, giving the impression the court document had just been served.Nigeria’s embattled petroleum minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has secured a court injunction ordering the House of Representatives to discontinue an ongoing investigation of how the minister allegedly squandered more than N10billion of public funds leasing private jets for two years.
A federal court in Abuja restrained the House, its committees or representatives from summoning Mrs. Alison-Madueke or requesting that she produce papers, documents or give evidence relating to the jet spending.
The presiding judge, A. R. Mohammed, also barred the lawmakers from ordering the minister’s arrest for failing to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is probing the allegation.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke is accused of spending billions of naira for the services of private jets she deployed for mostly personal trips. State oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, supervised by the minister, has absolved the minister of wrongdoing.
As petroleum minister, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been repeatedly investigated by the National Assembly. Multiple reports have blamed the minister for either maladministration, corruption or violation of the law.
A key probe which found the minister wanting was the 2012 fuel subsidy inquiry which exposed how the government spent more than N2 trillion subsidizing petrol in one year when actual subsidy cost was less than N500 billion. There is also the recent allegation of missing $20 billion oil funds.
Amid the charges, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also drawn praise for ensuring a year-round availability of petrol, a significant achievement in Nigeria’s notoriously corrupt oil sector. Yet, that achievement recently ebbed with fuel
shortage across the country lasting months.
The latest allegation against Mrs. Alison-Madueke came March 20 in a motion presented by a member of the House of Representatives, Samuel Adejare, accusing the minister of committing about 500,000 Euros (N130 million naira) monthly to maintain an aircraft for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations showed government funds were used for financing the deal. Preliminary investigation by the House public accounts committee showed more than one aircraft was involved.
Some lawmakers on the committee have spoken of pressure on them to suspend the investigation and a planned public hearing that has already been delayed by the minister’s refusal to attend.
Mrs. Alison-Madueke has also refused to submit required documents related to the spending, ahead of a public hearing.
The court injunction which is dated April 14 but only made public Monday, ordered the House not to summon the minister or ask her to provide any documents relating to the jet scandal. The court order was emailed by the NNPC to reporters late Monday.
Ohi Alegbe, a spokesperson for the NNPC, who also speaks for the minister, told PREMIUM TIMES the injunction was earlier served on the House two weeks back. He said the House may have deliberately kept the papers from the public.
But the chairman of the House Public Accounts Committee, Solomon Olamilekan, said he was surprised the minister waited until Monday- the scheduled day of the commencement of the investigation- before coming up with a court order, giving the impression the court document had just been served.
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
N10bn Jet scandal : Court order stalls Reps investigation
Abuja
– The House of Representatives on Monday said a Federal High Court
order stalled investigation in the alleged N10 billion spent on
chattered aircraft by Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, Minister of Petroleum
Resources.
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
The house on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Alison-Madueke use of state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The Chairman of the committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mhammed (APC-Kwara), who addressed newsmen, described the court order as frustrating.
“For us as legislators, our responsibility is to expose corruption but of course, this is another demonstration of part of the frustration we face as an arm of government,’’ he said.
He said that the house as a law abiding institution of government would wait and study the court order before taking any position on the matter.
“As a law abiding arm of government, we will tarry a while and of course take a legal opinion as far as issues are concerned,’’ he said.
According to him, the court order is a clear case of frustrating a matter under investigation.
“We are studying the papers, taking legal opinion and very shortly we will let you know our official position on this matter,’’ he said.
The Chairman, Committee on Public Accounts, Rep. Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos), said the committee had received responses from Vistajet International and Executive Jet Hangar involved in the transaction.
He said that the only responses being awaited by the committee was that of the NNPC, NCAA, FAAN and the Minister of Petroleum Resources relating to the investigation.
“Today is April 28, the committee scheduled to receive the honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources and other agencies that have stake in this investigation.
“But as we speak, there is a court order, which has been served to the office of the speaker, even though the committee has not gotten the copy of that order,’’ Adeola said.
“As you are all aware, we are law abiding citizens and a house that has respect for the rule of law, we have decided to hold on until further directive after wider consultation will be done.
“The nature of the court order is simple. They are just restraining us from carrying out our own investigation. I don’t know what they are afraid of that they have gone to court.’’
Adeola expressed surprises that the minister waited until the day of the commencement of the investigation before coming up with a court order.
He said that as the chairman of the committee, he was not under pressure from any quarter to stop the investigation.
It would be recalled that the committee had fixed April 28 for the hearing. (NAN)
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