…Summons NIA, DIA
David Okoh Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account has queried the Ministry of Forign Affairs over alleged expenditure without due process in the construction of projects in Ethiopia Adis-Ababa.
The lawmakers also during a public hearing held yesterday also summon Director General of Nigeria Intelligence Agency, NIA and Director Intellegence Agency, DIA to appear before it during the committee sitting next week to explain their role in the alleged shady deal that happened at the Nigeria/ Ethiopia project.
Speaking during the the hearing, the Chairman of the Committee Hon Oluwale Oke informed that they had received letters from the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, AoGF alleging lack of due process in award of contracts at Ethiopia Embassy by the ministry of Foreign Affairs, refusal to recall the Ambassador who has tetired from service as well as alleged payment of money without due process and misplacement of intervention funds.
The representatives of the Auditor General Office, Uwem Monday had applologized to the members of the committee for coming late behind the scheduled time, blaming such on lack of capable staff in his office.
The Committee Chairman, Hon Oke had during his opening remarks informed members that they invited ministry of foreign affairs and the AoGF to meet as part of their oversight duty as enshrined in the Constitution to ensure fair hearing to parties involved promising to do everything possible to unearth the truth.
When asked to react to allegations laid against her ministry, the Acting Permanent Secreatary , ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Janet Olisa told the Committee that she just resumed work as permsect few months in the ministry and should be given enough time to react to the matter appropriately.
She appealed to the Committee not to write banks through which the account is domicile relating to Ambassador of Nigeria to Ethiopia be because of Viena Convention and deplomatic relations.
Ambassador Olisa had earlier while responding to questions from lawmakers explained that her ministry had not voilated any lay down law and order insisting that due process we’re followed during contract execution in Ethiopia by her ministry.
However, when the chairman of the Committee Hon Oke requested for different section of Procurement Act to be read by the Acting Permanent Secrtary, she had to appologized for some of her comment during the heraing.
The Acting Permanent Secreatary has earlier told the lawmakers that both career and non career Ambassador are the property of the president which can only be recalled through a letter from the presidency.
She noted that for such appointees to stay or not remain the prorohative of the president.
Members of the committee had argued with the Acting Permanent secretary that government is a continuous stating that she is responsible to government whether her prediceedor was wrong on right and might be invited back for explaination in case of criminal bridge.
The chairman had informed the committee that they took risk going to Ethiopia to see things for themselves.
He disclosed that the 4-man delegation went and we’re disappointed from what they saw as there was nothing vertually on ground despite huge money spent.
The committee, the chairman said baffled by type of business module that the ministry used to get the contractor for the project.
He said that the committee needed a detailed explanation of the various stakes by all parties involved.
The lawmaker said that the committee needed explanations on the process that were used to get certification for the project or whether Berough Of Public Procurement were involved in the process.
Ministry of foreign affairs had pleeded with the lawmakers for amble time to present facts and figures which was accepted by members and two weeks period was given.
