WorldStage Newsonline– The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila has directed the Clerk of the House to engage the services of a legal counsel to file a suit of perjury against the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.

The speaker made the announcement at the plenary on Thursday while reacting to the failure of the minister to substantiate his claims that 60 per cent of the contracts in the Niger Delta Development Committee (NDDC) were awarded to lawmakers.

Gbajabimila recalled that the during the investigative hearing on the alleged financial malfeasance amounting to N40 billion in the NDDC, Akpabio had under oath alleged that 60 per cent of contracts in the commission were awarded to lawmakers.

Gbajabimila recalled that on Tuesday July 21, 2020, he issued a 48 hours ultimatum to Akpabio to publish the names of lawmakers and details of contracts awarded to them.

The speaker said that the minister had failed to respond to the request saying that Akpabio statement intended solely to gaslight the nation from the maladministration and malfeasance in the NDDC.

“I recognise that the House has not always lived up to the high expectations of the Nigerian people.

“As much as we still have a lot to do in that regard, I refuse to sit here in good conscience and allow anyone to assassinate the character of the House in an attempt to deflect accountability for their conduct in office.

“Such mendacity as was witnessed at the public hearing will not be tolerated from anybody no matter how highly placed.

“This morning, I asked the Clerk of the House of Representatives to engage the services of legal counsel, and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the Minister.

“At the same time, we will instruct counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against the Minister,” he said.

Gbajabimila said that the House is a public trust placed in the care of lawmakers for the duration of term in office.

According to him, legislators must prove worthy of this public trust or risk the censure of history.

The speaker said lawmakers will resist every attempt to undermine the institution, whether such attempts come from within or from outside.

He promised that the  House will live up to the highest expectations of the Nigerian people saying that it is the commitment the House will not fail.

AKPABIO RESPONDS TO 48-HOUR ULTIMATUM ISSUED BY HOUSE OF REPS

Meanwhile, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Godswill Akpabio has said that he never alleged that 60 per cent of contacts in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) were awarded to lawmakers.

Akpabio made the clarification in a letter addressed to the House of Representatives and read by the Speaker, Rep. Femi Gbajabimila at the plenary on Thursday.

Gbajabimila on Tuesday July 21, 2020 issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Akpabio to publish the names of legislators and details of contracts awarded to them by the NDDC.

Gbajabimila had during an investigative hearing on the alleged financial malfeasance amounting to N40 billion in the NDDC, Akpabio had under oath alleged that 60 per cent of contracts in the commission were awarded to lawmakers.

In the letter, Akpabio explained that the investigative committee did not allow him explain what he meant when he made reference to 60 per cent contracts in the NDDC.

“As to the reference to 60 per cent of contracts, the investigative committee refused and neglected to give me opportunity to explain that; I  was responding to a question by a member of the committee

“Permit me to explain that any reference to 60 per cent during the investigative hearing was in answer to a question by a member of the committee as to whether or not, a medical doctor could act as Executive Director project which I answered in affirmative.

“That the greatest project in the world today is COVID-19, which is medical in nature; further more, I am made to understand that 60 per cent of NDDC yearly budget are medical in nature, therefore is better for a medical doctor  to serve as the Executive Director Projects,” it reads.

“I never referred to members of the 9th House of Representatives as beneficiaries of NDDC contracts as the NDDC is yet to fully implement any NDDC budget since the beginning of the 9th National Assembly.

“The Director Projects forwarded to me 19 old contracts amounting to nine billion naira which the NDDC Chairman in the house insist the IMC pay for,” he said.

Akpabio said that as a former Minority Leader   of the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, He shall forever hold the ideals of the National Assembly.

He said that will not make the entire document on the old contracts public as he got it from the lead forensic auditor in confidence.

The Speaker had earlier directed Clerk of the house to engage services of the legal counsel to sue Akpabio for perjury following his failure to respond to ultimatum about two hours before Akpabio’s letter was read on the floor.

Gbajabimila, however, forwarded the letter to the House Committee on Ethics and Privilege for further scrutiny and legislative actions.