The Senate yesterday asked former Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Attahiru Jega to name members of
the National Assembly involved in corruption practices.
Senate President Bukola Saraki
threw the challenge to former INEC boss, following a Point of Order raised by
Senator Isah Hamman Misau on the allegation of corrupt practices levelled
against National Assembly members by Jega.
Jega was reported to have said
National Assembly committee chairmen asked for gratification from heads of
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to carry out their constitutional
duties in the name of so-called over sight functions.
Misau said: “My point of order
is based on the lecture made during the Democracy Day; the President of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria was in attendance.
“During the lecture,
the guest lecturer, who is an elder statesman and the former chairman of INEC,
Prof. Attahiru Jega, made a statement, which I feel I have to bring it to this
floor.
“He made mention that
some committee chairmen of the National Assembly are notorious for demanding or
collecting bribes, which I feel is unfortunate.
“Somebody that is
well-respected to come and make statement that he was told by some executive is
really unfortunate.
“I feel that the
statement is very weighty because that programme was televised live.
“The thing they need
to understand is that these live programmes are watched around the world and at
the time he made that statement, I am a member of ECOWAS parliament and I after
the lecture, I went to the parliament, most of the parliamentarians, asked me
if what the Professor said is true or not?
“I found it difficult
to explain to them and I feel that not only Prof. Jega, but anybody that
would make statements concerning the credibility of this Senate and the
chairmen, I think you should be bold enough to mention the committee chairmen,
especially when it is about fighting corruption in Nigeria.
“If we really want to
fight corruption and want to help the government, he would not be making such
statements without mentioning the committee chairmen and those who gave him
that sort of information.
“I felt embarrassed.
We need the professor to throw more light on what he said.”
Saraki said he was at
the event, where the allegation was made.
He added that House of
Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara was also at the event where Jega made the
allegation.
He said they were
“highly embarrassed” by the sweeping allegation, which failed to name names.
He noted that the
matter should be forgotten, if Jega failed to name those involved.
Saraki said: “I was at
the programme, myself and the Speaker and we were highly embarrassed by that
kind of comment. All of us are committed to the fight against corruption.
“But I believe it
doesn’t help the fight against corruption. It is a slight to the integrity of
some of us, where such a statement is made.
“If he has those kinds
of evidence, he should bring them forward. “If he can’t come out and name
names, then he should not make such branding statement.
“Going forward to all
distinguished and respected Nigerians, on issues that have to do with the
institutions and a parliament, if there are cases like this, we have always
said that we are not going to cover up for anybody and future accusations. They
should name them and see what the institution would do in trying to ensure that
the necessary sanctions are taken.”
The Nation
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