Reps deny rift between Speaker Abbas, Kalu, says no bribery for committee placement 

 

The Nigerian House of Representatives, has said the dissolution of the Joint Adhoc Committee on Midstream and Downstream Petroleum was done in line with the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and the standing rules of the House.

 

This was, even as, the Green chamber debunked the insinuations in some quarters that there was love lost between the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas and his deputy, Benjamin Kalu; and that Members bribed their way to get some juicy Committee placements in the House.

 

A statement signed on Wednesday by the Spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi Jnr, said the action by the leadership was to ensure efficacy, independence, and effectiveness of the investigation.

 

He stressed that, the House has its internal working mechanisms, “which are enabled by Section 60 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provides that, ‘Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Senate or the House of Representatives shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the procedure for summoning and recess of the House'”.

 

The Spokesperson contended that, “the leadership of the House reserves the right to disband/dissolve an ad hoc committee whenever the need arises.

 

“That the action taken by the House to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas Investigation did not contravene any rule of the House or any law of the land;

 

“That at no time did the House leadership or anybody for that matter received inducement for the appointment of any committee chairman. It was an assignment diligently executed by the Selection Committee of the House between June and July 2023, which has a member from each of the states of the federation;

 

“That there is no rift whatsoever between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker regarding this or any matter; the duo enjoys a robust and cordial relationship. The two Presiding Officers also have mutual respect for each other, and will not allow anything to come between them.

 

“The public should therefore disregard the speculations making the round in some sections of the media”.

 

The House therefore, implored Journalists to always verify their facts and crosscheck with the appropriate quarters before going to the press, “with information that are nothing but falsehoods dished out as stories”.

 

The Green chamber, while reiterating cordial relationship between the two Presiding Officers and peace amongst Members; stressed that it operates open door policy and remains open to the Nigerian public and the media regarding its activities.