The House of Representatives has decided to issue a criminal complaint of perjury and civil defamation lawsuit against the Minister of the Niger Delta, Godswill Akpabio, after he failed to publish the names of members of the National Assembly that he claimed have been awarded contracts by the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC.
On Monday, 20th July, Akpabio while testifying at the House of Representatives panel investigating various allegations on NDDC, alleged that most of the contracts awarded in the Commission were to members of the National Assembly.
In response, on Tuesday, 21st July, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, gave the Minister 48 hours ultimatum to release the names of the lawmakers in question.
The 48 hours elapsed today Thursday, 23rd July, and the house has agreed to take Akpabio to court for such a ”defamatory statement”,as no one will be allowed to “assassinate the character of the house”.
Gbajabiamila said,
“Last Tuesday I issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate his allegation that over 60% (sixty per cent) of contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) went to members of the National Assembly.”
“I said then that the Honourable Minister owed it to himself and the country to provide evidence to support these serious allegations. The Honourable Minister has failed to respond to my request.”
“Therefore, I must conclude that his statement intended solely to gaslight the nation to avoid accountability for the evident maladministration and malfeasance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).”
“I have held every House of Representatives leadership position from Minority Whip, to Minority Leader, Leader of the House (Majority Leader) and now Speaker. I recognise that the House has not always lived up to the high expectations of the Nigerian people.”
“As much as we still have a lot to do in that regard, I refuse to sit here in good conscience and allow anyone to assassinate the character of the House in an attempt to deflect accountability for their conduct in office.”
“This morning, I asked the Clerk of House of Represnetatives to engage the services of legal counsel, and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the Minister. At the same time, we will instruct counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit.”
“The House of Representatives is a public trust placed in our care for the duration of our term in office. We must prove ourselves worthy of this public trust or risk the censure of history.”
“Therefore, we will resist every attempt to undermine this institution, whether such attempts come from within or from outside. The House of Represnetatives will live up to the highest expectations of the Nigerian people. This is our commitment, and we will not fail.”
Comments are closed.