By Kolawole Ojebisi
It appears the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio has stirred up the hornet’s nest with his manoeuvring tactics at House hearing on Monday, as members of the lower chamber of the National Assembly have given him an ultimatum of 48 hours to publish the names of lawmakers who had benefitted from contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) or face the full weight of the law upon any failure to do so.
This is coming a day after Akpabio at an investigative hearing on the NDDC’s N81.5bn alleged fraud and misappropriation of funds on Monday, disclosed most of the development projects of the NDDC were awarded to lawmakers.
Honourable Boma Goodhead had slammed Akpabio for putting the integrity of lawmakers in question.
An argument soon ensued between both parties as Akpabio said the past Chairman and present Chairman were privy to the information.
The Panel Chairman could be heard saying “ORDER! ORDER! IT’S OKAY” to restore calm to the session which went rowdy after the allegation by Akpabio.
The Chairman relentlessly tapped the shoulders of Boman to stop questioning the NDDC Minister on the claims.
However, Femi Gbajabiamila has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Akpabio to publish the names, companies, and contracts of lawmakers who were awarded NDDC contracts.
Gbajabiamila disclosed he initially dismissed the allegation as ridiculous and not worth wasting precious time on until he realized he was putting the integrity of the house in question, an act that cannot be condoned.
He has therefore asked Akpabio to order the NDDC to publish the names of the lawmakers or face the full wrath of the house.
