The leadership of the Federal House of Representatives will not sweep investigations into the $620,000 bribe involving Farouk Lawan and Femi Otedola under the carpet, it said yesterday.
Zakari Mohammed, chairman of the House a committee on media and public affairs, gave the assurance at a press briefing in Abuja, saying that the House has resolved to examine all pending issues concerning the scandal according to their merits. “The assurances we have from the leadership is that every issue will be looked at according to its merit, so let’s just keep our cool,” Mohammed said.
“For the Lagos lawyer, that’s the beauty of democracy. In Nigeria, you can go to any court in the land, but at the same time rushing to condemn us with slightest opportunity will do no one any good. We want to strengthen the institution and we want to assure you that we will put this matter behind us very shortly. We will not sweep Farouk Lawan’s case under the carpet; we will treat it bases on merit.
We want to strengthen the institution.” Reacting to questions on the delay in the signing of 2013 budget into law by President Goodluck Jonathan, the House spokesman disclosed that the budget was formally sent to the Presidency only on Tuesday.
He, however, noted that the copy of the signed budget will be transmitted the House before the end of the month. Mohammed also denied reports on an impeachment move against Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, stating that the vote of confidence passed on the Speaker finally lays the issue to rest. “The report was not planted by the leadership of the House to test waters,” he said.
“However, the House has no plan to investigate those behind the impeachment plot.” He explained that the meeting held at the caucus level was to examine the performance of the House over the past two years.
“We met yesterday at the caucus level to refocus, reaffirm and talk to ourselves about 2013: how do we go about legislative businesses and carry on? So the nocturnal meeting was not for anything unusual,” he added, and then went on to pledge the commitment of the House to stabilizing the legislative institution.
