Deputy spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, has denied reports that the House indicted the Chief Executive Officers of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Agbese said contrary to perception, the House aims to serve justice for all. According to him, it was one thing to receive petitions against individuals and agencies, it was another to give the accused fair hearing, do due diligence to the hearings and form a balance opinion for fairness and justice. He insisted that the House was guided by rules and regulations, and would be fair to all.
The House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption, in an October 11 letter, summoned the Managing Director of REA, Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad, over alleged fraud perpetrated under his watch. The summons followed a petition by a Civil Society Group, Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV), alleging several improprieties by the Ahmad-led management team, including a purported N1.5 billion fraud.
Agbese said: “The 10th House of Representatives is guided by rules and regulations. We have our procedure, like every other Parliament across the world. So when issues are raised, they are to be considered meticulously and, of course, we will always ensure that justice is done.”
“For instance, the committee on Tetfund has done its investigation and submitted its report which did not in any way indict Tetfund.
“Same thing for the Rural Electrification Agency, petitions were raised and some were directly sent to public account, public petition and even the committee responsible for its oversight
“The Assembly is not desperate to criminalise any individual for doing his or her duty. We are not witch-hunting anyone. We are here for all Nigerians.”
