ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – The House of Representatives has said there is no rift between the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu, over the dissolution of the joint Committee saddled with the task of probing alleged infractions in the oil and gas sector or over any other matter.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Akin Rotimi, in a statement, said the two presiding officers enjoy a robust and cordial relationship with mutual respect for each other.
The House had mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Petroleum Resources (Midstream) to investigate alleged fuel racketeering and other issues in the oil and gas sector.
However, the House on Monday, announced the dissolution of the joint Committee, saying an Ad-hoc Committee will be constituted to undertake the assignment.
Nonetheless, the House spokesman said contrary to speculations, “ the action by the leadership was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.”
“The leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises. That the action taken by the House to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas Investigation did not contravene any rule of the House or any law of the land. “
Furthermore, Rotimi noted that the House leadership did not receive inducement for the appointment of anyone as committee chairman in the House.
“At no time did the House leadership or anybody for that matter receive inducement for the appointment of any committee chairman. It was an assignment diligently executed by the Selection Committee of the House between June and July 2023, which has a member from each of the states of the federation. “
Similarly, Kalu, in a statement, said there was no feud between Abbas and himself over the dissolution of the joint Committee set up to probe activities in the oil and gas sector.
The statement read in part: “let it also be stated that the report of a shouting match between Speaker Abbas and Kalu during the recent emergency leadership meeting which the deputy speaker participated via zoom from a very noisy ward-to-ward, thank-you tour at Ugwueke in Bende federal constituency of Abia State is greatly unfounded, insensitive and senseless. The minute of the meeting is there and will convince anyone in doubt.
“The decision for the dissolution was a matter of necessity collectively taken by the House leadership and Kalu is in total support of it for a better investigative structure soon to be announced on the same subject matter.
“Moreso, the allegation of S10m bribe is an elaborate hoax, a joke taken too far. It is ludicrous, grossly spurious and provocative. It should be completely disregarded. There is no report of any indictment and nothing close to it was mentioned with regards to the committee, their leadership or membership.”
