By Abiola Olawale
The House of Representatives has issued a stern warning, threatening the arrest of the management of Dangote Cement, a company owned by Nigerian business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote over continued failure to appear before the house for questioning.
The Chairman of, the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gbefwi, issued this warning on Tuesday.
The New Diplomat reports that the joint Committees on Commerce, Industry, Special Duties, and Solid Minerals had summoned the management of Dangote Cement for questioning over alleged arbitrary increase in the prices of cement in Nigeria.
At the hearing on Tuesday, officials of the cement company were absent; a development that did not sit well with the committee.
In a brief remark at the event, Gbefwi who represents Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State at the House of Representatives, accused Dangote and other cement manufacturers of making life difficult for the masses, while smiling at the banks without empathy.
He said: “They want to over-profit without any sense of empathy for the citizens that have given them this platform.
“On Dangote, my ruling is simple. The laws have given us the necessary powers but we owe you a duty of care. We are going to give you one more chance. We are going to communicate a date.
“Failure to comply with that date, a subpoena will be issued. A warrant of arrest will be given for you to make an appearance before the National Assembly. No single individual is bigger than the parliament of his country. No single Nigerian is bigger than the National Assembly”.
