Reps read riot act to Malabu Oil, NNPC, others over missing $1.1bn

• Block discussions on fresh national conference, to probe CBN on forex policies
The House of Representatives has reiterated resolve to ensure recovery of $1.1 billion, allegedly pilfered when Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was Minister of Petroleum Resources.

The chairman of the House adhoc committee probing the issue, Razak Atunwa, yesterday, demanded officials of Malabu Oil and Gas, A.A Oil Limited, Shell, and Nigeria Agip Exploration (NAE) turned in relevant documents explaining their role in the deal or face the wrath of the law.

The House also vowed to probe implementation of forex policies by the Central Bank of Nigeria.Adopting a motion sponsored by Ali Isa (PDP, Baianga, Biliri, Gombe) the lawmakers resolved to set up an adhoc committee to probe lingering scarcity of foreign exchange in the country’s capital market, which has seen the naira exchanged at over N400 to a dollar.

Meanwhile, a bill seeking the convocation of another national conference was rejected, yesterday.Jointly sponsored by Kingsley Chinda (Obio/Akpor, PDP, Rivers) and Peter Akpatason (Akoko-Edo, APC, Edo), the bill wants Nigerians to discuss and adopt a new constitution, which would in turn be subjected to a referendum.

Chinda had barely stood up to open debate on principles of the bill, when the chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Emmanuel Orkev-Jev, interjected.

He drew the attention of the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the plenary session, to Section 1, and 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which specified procedures for amendment of the Constitution.

Without hesitation, Dogara brought down the gavel, sealing the fate of the initiative, and dashing hope among a section of Nigerians that a fresh conference could move the nation forward.

The House also urged the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS) to intensify efforts at ensuring the release of kidnapped ex-minister, Laurentia Malam, and her husband. It also urged security agencies to step up surveillance on the Bwari-Jere-Kaduna road where the duo was kidnapped.

Adopting a motion by Sunday Marshall Katung (PDP, Kaduna), the House also urged the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) and all service providers in the country to trace the location of the phone belonging to the victims’ driver.

Condemning the incident, the lawmakers expressed worry that the Abuja-Kaduna road had become a flashpoint given the spate of abductions that occur there.

The House regretted that 48 hours after the incident, the police and other security agencies had not yet secured release of the victims.Adopting another motion, jointly sponsored by Henry Archibong (PDP, Akwa Ibom), Mustapha Bala Dawaki (APC, Kano) and Solomon Bulus Maren (PDP, Plateau), the House resolved to constitute an ad-hoc panel to investigate recent jobs advertisement by the Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC).

It lamented the inability of millions of applicants to access the dedicated portal. It urged the commission to publicly declare the number of vacancies available and distribute the same according to states and in line with the principle of Federal Character.