House of Representatives has said its frequent summons of ministers and probe of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, were not a witch-hunt of the Executive arm of government.
It however stated that the rush by some ministers to court to prevent their being investigated would not deter it from performing its constitutional oversight function.
At an interaction with journalists at the weekend in Abuja, the Deputy House spokesman, Hon. Afam Ogene, admitted that there was never a time the Federal High Court, Abuja issued an order stopping the Committee on Public Accounts from probing the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke.
On April 28, the House had said the court order was served on the office of the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
But Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court Abuja stated that he did not grant such order.
Clarifying the stand of the House on the matter at the weekend, Hon. Ogene said that there was never a time the court issued the purported restraining order on the minister’s probe.
Hon. Ogene said the House was sorry for the slip and commended the judge for standing on the path of truth. He, however, maintained that the House would not shy away from its primary responsibility of overseeing the activities of the executive.
“We are sorry for that slip. Wherever it came from, the House is thankful to Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja for standing on the side of justice by clearing the air on an injunction purportedly issued by him.
“The House will not at any time shrink from its responsibilities. Acting in personal capacity is different from acting as an official of government. So it is baffling to attempt to prevent officials of government from being answerable to Nigerians.
“Any life not worth examining is not worth living because the essence of democracy is to ensure that we examine ourselves. The position of the law is unchanged and no man or woman is above the law.
“When the current 7th Assembly was inaugurated in 2011, I don’t think any member had any particular minister in mind. The House does not prosecute anybody because reports of our investigations are still passed to the executive arm to implement. The tendency in Nigeria is that when people are summoned, they are seen to be witch-hunted.
“He emphasised that the House would not argue with the minister over issues of obtaining clearance from the President before appearing before the committee.
The lawmaker explained that the mandate of the House Committee over the alleged expenditure had never at any time been withdrawn, adding that investigations of such nature do not start and end with the physical appearance of the person concerned.
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