Group Wants Lawmaker Suspended

The Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria (CRCN) has appealed to the House of Representatives leadership, ethics committee and other relevant bodies to expedite disciplinary proceedings against a member of the Green Chamber, Hon. Afam Ogene, for abuse of legislative privilege on the tax laws saga.

The group particularly called for the immediate suspension of Ogene from the House, accusing him of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign through the Minority Caucus that has sown confusion, undermined institutional harmony and distracted from national priorities.

The lawmaker is the chairman of the House Minority Caucus Ad hoc Committee investigating alleged Illegal alterations to the Gazetted Tax laws.

The minority caucus committee, in its interim report released in Abuja over the weekend, said a comparison of the Certified True Copy made public by the House with the gazetted versions confirmed alterations, particularly in the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025.

Spokesperson of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, had said the authority to constitute an ad-hoc committee of the Green Chamber rests solely with the House acting in plenary, or with the Speaker exercising powers conferred under the Standing Orders.

According to Rotimi, any interim or final report emanating from such a caucus-led body cannot be laid before the House, cannot be received as a parliamentary document, and does not form part of the official legislative or oversight record of the National Assembly.

In a statement signed by its President, Dr Gabriel Idoko, the CRCN described Ogene’s actions as a desperate attempt to gain cheap popularity and revive his faltering political career following his recent defection from the Labour Party to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) amid internal party turmoil.

Idoko stated that: “Hon. Afam Victor Ogene’s actions in leading a so-called ad-hoc committee outside formal parliamentary channels represent a clear abuse of his position as a legislator.

“This parallel probe has no binding authority yet is being paraded as official scrutiny, eroding public confidence in the House.

“By publicly alleging ‘three different versions’ of the tax laws and calling for deeper digs into unspecified perpetrators, Ogene has engaged in reckless speculation that borders on defamation and legislative grandstanding, rather than constructive oversight.”

The CRCN emphasised that such behaviour violates the decorum expected of lawmakers and sets a dangerous precedent for factional overreach within the National Assembly.

“The Minority Caucus, under Ogene’s leadership, has prioritised partisan point-scoring over unity and due process. Their interim report, released amid ongoing official mechanisms, only fuels unnecessary division and public misinformation on a resolved legislative matter.

“We view this as an abuse of legislative privilege, where a member exploits his platform to challenge established procedures and indirectly impugn the integrity of fellow lawmakers and institutions without substantiated evidence presented through proper channels,” he said.

The CRCN praised the House of Representatives for its commendable and timely release of Certified True Copies (CTCs) of the enacted tax laws, which have effectively clarified the authentic versions, aligned official records, and upheld legislative transparency.

Idoko remarked: “The House deserves commendation for promptly issuing the Certified True Copies and addressing the initial concerns through proper institutional channels.

“This decisive step has restored clarity and protected the integrity of the legislative process.

“Yet, in the face of this resolution, Ogene persists in amplifying unverified allegations and pushing a parallel narrative, actions that appear designed solely for personal visibility rather than national good.”

The CRCN argued that suspension remains the necessary disciplinary response to deter such disruptive conduct and to safeguard the House from exploitation for individual political resuscitation.

Idoko warned that: “Allowing Hon. Ogene to continue unchecked would embolden similar tactics by others, turning the legislature into a stage for self-promotion and factional battles instead of focused law-making.”

The group urged the House leadership, ethics committee, and all relevant bodies to expedite disciplinary proceedings against Ogene, stressing that ethical standards must be enforced impartially across party lines.