The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Arms and Ammunitions Purchase, has summoned the Chief of Army Staff, Major-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, over the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the purchase of arms and ammunitions by the Nation’s military.
This followed the absence of the Chief Of Army Staff and the CBN boss, at the rescheduled investigative hearing of the Committee on Monday in which the Chief Of Army Staff, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor and other heads of security agencies are billed to appear.
However, after waiting endlessly for over three hours for these top Government officials to appear, the Ad-hoc Committee decided to summon them to appear unfailingly on Wednesday, the 7th April this year.
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The Ad-hoc Committee Chairman, Olaide Akinyemi, issued the summon following a motion moved by a member of the Committee, Bede Uchenna Eke, who was infuriated by the absence of the two invited officials and told the committee, that it was time to take a hard stand on the matter.
Bede told the committee that, the absence of the two top officials before the Committee was unacceptable and added that if they think they can do this and get away with it, then it is an insult to the parliament.
He added that the Chief Of Army Staff and the CBN Governor, should be summoned immediately by the Ad-hoc Committee to show that they are serious with the investigation.
The Committee members said the Chief Of Army Staff cannot be seen as a new person in the office as Government is a continuum.
They also noted that the CBN as an institution, had repeatedly shunned the invitation of the House on many issues, adding that they should respect the institution.
Consequently when the Chairman of the probe panel put the motion to a voice vote, it was overwhelming voted for by the Lawmakers.
(Edited by Tunde Orebiyi)
