Lawmakers Cautioned Against Extortion Of Examination Bodies

Concerned civil society organisations have warned against House Committees allegedly intimidating and extorting funds from Nigeria’s examination bodies.

The groups spoke at a joint press conference in Abuja yesterday.

On behalf of the groups, convener of the Social Transparency and Youth Leadership Advancement Initiative, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, referred to an allegation that the chairman of one of the House Committees on Basic Education is alleged to have been involved in the act.

He said their attention had been drawn to what they described as corrupt activities by the lawmaker, which they claimed undermined the progress made by examination bodies in recent years.

The CSOs warned that such acts of intimidation and continuous extortion were unacceptable to both the civil society community and the Nigerian public.

According to the groups, the lawmaker allegedly used his position to intimidate the heads of examination bodies, such as JAMB, WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, demanding funds purportedly for collective committee use, while allegedly diverting some of it for personal benefit.

They further accused him of irregularities in the engagement of consultants, whom he reportedly hires and dismisses at will, and of travelling to the United Kingdom on committee funds without informing or including other committee members in official oversight duties.

The groups also raised questions about N62,700,000 reportedly paid into the committee account, as well as the partial refund of N43,000,000, which civil societies insisted requires further investigation to ensure transparency in public spending.

“He is alleged to have written letters to the CBN and the AGF demanding statements of account from examination bodies, which he uses as a tool for blackmailing CEOs who do not succumb to his demands. It is also observed that, due to his totalitarian nature, there is no coherence in his committee, as members have not been carried along.

“We call on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to remove the lawmaker as chairman of the House Committee on Basic Examinations and refer him for a thorough investigation by the House Committee on Ethics as a matter of urgent national importance.

“Failure to remove him and subject him to proper investigation will lead to a national protest at the National Assembly to demand a comprehensive inquiry into his activities in the House,” threatened.