Shun Probe Again Incur Wrath Of The Law, Reps Warn Interior Minister, Others

The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has vowed to invoke the wrath of the law if the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, Comptroller- Generals of Nigerian Immigration and Customs Services, Kemi Nandap and Adewale Adeniyi as well as other stakeholders, again failed to appear for a very crucial investigation.

The committee’s chairman, Hon. Leke Abejide (ADC, Kogi) said this in his ruling after the investigation into “Modernisation Project of the Nigeria Customs Service (E-CUSTOMS) Concession to Trade Modernisation Project (TMP) and the Role of Webb Fontaine in the E-CUSTOMS Initiative” was adjourned sine die on Monday.

The House had mandated the committee to investigate the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service (e-customs) concession to the Trade Modernisation Project (TMP).

The panel is to also probe the involvement of Webb Fontaine in the E-Customs framework and the need to employ modern technology to secure Nigeria’s borders and address the challenges posed by illegal migration and border management.

However, when the lawmakers were set for the exercise, while the interior minister Ojo was said to be out of the country and could not attend the session, no reason was given for the absence of the Customs and Immigration bosses.

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Thus, the visibly angry lawmakers frowned at the attitude of the heads of government agencies towards the probe and turned back their representatives, insisting the minister and chief executives of the organisations invited must appear personally.

A member of the committee, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante (PDP, Rivers), venting his anger, said that if the heads of the agencies fail to turn up at the next sitting, the lawmakers will consider recommending their removal from their positions.

“We will contemplate recommending for their replacement because such attitude will not help in advancing the cause of this government and administration, knowing too well where we stand especially in the challenge of financing the budget.

This hearing and the outcome is very key, principal and primary to all that this government will achieve.

“If they continue disrespecting the invitation without obvious reasons, we should contemplate recommending (their removal). They have shown negligence or that they are tired of the assignment that Mr President has granted them,” the lawmaker maintained.

Another member of the committee, Hon. Olumide Osoba (APC, Ogun) also frowned at the absence of the chief executives, contrary to section 88 of the Constitution which gives the House the power to invite any individual to appear before it to offer explanation.

He said going by the constitutional provision, only the heads of the agencies are to appear before the lawmakers, moving that the investigative hearing cannot be held as those representing the chief executives were not in a position to provide the answers being sought by the legislature.

In his ruling, the panel’s chairman,  Abejide said those concerned will be invited again at a future date which they must appear personally or face the music for their actions.

“We can’t talk to any other person apart from the head of the agencies and the minister because this assignment was given to us to carry out on behalf of the House of Representatives. We are not doing it by ourselves and we have to report back to the plenary.

“This sitting is hereby suspended indefinitely, we don’t know the date yet. We will invite you again and give you a date to appear and heads of agencies must be here because we are not joking.

“This is not for us, it is for Nigerians and progress of the country. So, if there is any stakeholder not present we will invoke the wrath of the law and show them that we are not joking here,” he said.