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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