$1.7m bribe-for-committee-chairmanship allegation false, diversionary – Ugochinyere
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Wednesday, denied allegations that he bribed the leadership of the House to the tune of $1.7 million to secure chairmanship of the committee.
The report surfaced in the wake of the House’s leadership decision to dissolve an ad hoc panel investigating some issues in the gas and oil sector of which Ugochinyere was the lead chairman, that the lawmaker has threatened that with such amount spent to secure a committee chairmanship position, the speaker cannot sack him.
The House had earlier Wednesday August 7, 2024, in apparent reaction to the said report, stated that it was surprised at the dimension the decision of the leadership was taking, adding that the action by the leadership was “to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation”.
Spokesman of the House, Akin Rotimi, in a statement said “the House has its internal working mechanisms, which are enabled by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that “Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House,” adding the leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises.”
But Ugochinyere has described the report as “false, nonsensical and belated attempts to provoke, divert attention from the endemic corruption in the oil industry,” as he passed a vote of confidence on Speaker Abbas Tajudeen on the dissolution of the committee.
His statement through his chief of staff, Ernest Njesi reads; “The allegation is a belated nonsensical, childish and unprofessional fiction work aimed at creating division in the House to aide some criminal elements who are long overdue for prison to think they can escape justice which is impossible as the demand for transparency and reform is a task that will be pushed.
“Only a childish mind will believe the poorly scripted work that speaker was given 1.7m dollars for something that those not worth a penny. We will not dignify the cheap attempt to distract and divert attention from the House investigation on the corruption from our oil industry.
“Hon. Abbas and Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s all-inclusive administration style has kept the 10th House stable in the last one year. Their approach to governance has played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of inclusivity within the parliament. They embraced a collaborative approach that transcends party lines, fostering an environment where all voices are not only heard but also valued.”
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