Reps sack ethics committee chairman

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal yesterday sacked Hon. Gambo Musa from office as chairman of House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

He was replaced for the purpose of investigating the chairman, House Committee on Capital Market, Hon. Herman Hembe by Hon. Samson Osagie.

Hon. Musa was a member of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market that was dissolved following allegations of N44 million bribe levelled against the chairman of the committee, Hon. Herman Hembe

Announcing the removal of the chairman, the speaker said; “To avoid role conflict and in order to ensure fair hearing for all, the chairman of the Ethics Committee who happens to be a member of the committee on Capital Market is hereby excused from the position for the purposes of the present investigation.”

“Similarly, the deputy chairman of the Ethics Committee who is now a member of the ad-hoc Committee is also excused, from the Ethics Committee, for the purposes of the ethics investigation,” he added.

Speaking further, the speaker urged Nigerians to continue to repose their confidence on the 7th Assembly, as it is determined to ensure that the trust reposed on it by the electorate was not abused.

“The House of Representatives will continue to be a bulwark against injustice and vanguard for the promotion of good governance and the defence of the interests, yearnings and aspiration of Nigerians”, he added.

He explained that because the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in Sections 88 and 89 places upon the legislature the duty and responsibility to conduct investigations into the activities of government for the purpose of exposing corruption, waste and inefficiency, the house will carry out investigation of the nation’s ailing Capital Market to a logical conclusion.

“This is no doubt a responsibility which is hazard prone. However, as I have stated elsewhere, these hazards notwithstanding, it is a duty from which we cannot and must not abdicate.

“Let me assure Nigerians once again that we are totally committed to the fight against corruption and shall deploy all energies available at our disposal to fight this war.

“The old saying that “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going” will continue to be our guide, I also wish to assure Nigerians that in fighting this war we recognize that we must, like Caesar’s wife be above board and suspicion.

“For the avoidance of doubt and the benefit of those who may be uninformed, all committees of the House have constitutional backing. My dear colleagues, we were not elected to lie on a bed of roses. Those who elected us expect that we represent their yearnings and aspirations.

“Nigerians have chosen presidential democracy as a bulwark against dictatorship, against corruption and waste and above all against executive recklessness, this is the duty to which we have been called and we have sworn to promote, protect and preserve the will of the people enshrined in the Constitution”, he added.