Tuesday, June 26, 2012

STF summons Jagaba, committee members over bribery scandal



Committee Chairman on Narcotics, Adams Jagaba
Police Special Task Force has again summoned members of the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy Management.
Investigations by our correspondent on Tuesday showed that the fresh invitation followed the STF’s discovery that the $620,000 bribe Zenon Oil Chairman, Femi Otedola, claimed that he gave the committee chairman, Farouk Lawan, was allegedly shared among the members.
The STF last week invited the committee members, through a letter written to the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuawal.
The police also invited the Chairman of the House Committee on Narcotics/Drug and Financial Crimes, Mr. Adams Jagaba.
While Jagaba sent a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, denying that the N96m bribe was handed over to him by Lawan, the fuel subsidy committee members had yet to report to the police.
A police officer said, “Investigators have got fresh facts that the committee members must have benefitted from the bribe following the refusal of the main accused person, Farouk Lawan to reveal the whereabouts of the money.
“There is no way they can be excluded from the investigation. They must come here (police headquarters to clear their names.”
It was learnt that STF invited the committee members following Jagaba’s denial that the money was given to him by Lawan.
The turn of events left the police with no choice than to interrogate the committee members who had been silent on the scandal since it broke out two weeks ago.
Sources told our correspondent that the police might declare the committee members wanted if they fail to show up at the Force Headquarters on Wednesday (today) as their absence had frustrated and delayed the probe.
A police source said, “Police had written to the committee members twice asking them to come and assist the STF in its investigations; they declined to come the first time and a reminder was sent to them individually, but if they don’t show up tomorrow (today), then we will have no choice than to declare them wanted and issue a warrant for their arrest.”
The committee members are Ali Ahmad (PDP); John Enoh (PDP); Umar Sade (PDP); James Faleke (ACN) Eucharia Azodo (PDP) and Irona Alphonsus (PDP), Farouk Lawan (PDP) and Boniface Emenalo, a civil servant.
Meanwhile,the Bishop of the Akure Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Rt. Rev. Michael Ipinmoye, said on Tuesday the sacking of Andrew Azazi as National Security Adviser and Bello Haliru as Minister of Defence would not be enough to check the activities of Boko Haram.

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