The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday directed the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the alleged N10 billion spent by the Petroleum Resources Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke, on chartered aircraft.
The House on March 27 mandated the Public Accounts Committee to investigate Allison-Madueke for allegedly using state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for personal use.
The probe, which was expected to begin on March 28, was suspended on alleged court order.
Tambuwal, who was reacting to a newspaper publication that he ordered the suspension of the investigation, gave the directive at plenary in Abuja.
He explained that at no point did he order the suspension of the investigation based on the order of the court, adding that it was only put on hold to seek legal advice.
He said: “I directed that the investigation should be put on hold until some of the legal issues were sorted out.
“I therefore direct that the matter should continue and the committee should turn in their report.”
The House also mandated its Committee on Treaties and Agreements and Commerce, to invite the Minister of Trade and Investment to brief the House on the proposed European Union Economic Partnership Agreement with Nigeria.
This resolution followed a motion moved by Hon. Micah Umoh (PDP-Akwa Ibom), which was unanimously adopted without debate.
According to Umoh, the proposed EPA by the EU would be in favour of the economy of Europe and to the detriment of Africa.
Umoh said that if the agreement was endorsed by Nigeria, the country would become a dumping ground for European goods.
“If Nigeria endorses the new European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, we will inadvertently transfer job opportunities of our children to their children,” he said.
Umoh said that the agreement would also foreclose market competitiveness of Nigeria’s manufactured products.
The lawmaker warned that if Nigeria went ahead to sign the October 1 agreement, her rising status as an economic power would be undermined.
Tambuwal directs committee to commence investigation on minister’s chartered jet
