Emotions flared on Tuesday as
members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges and
oil businessman, Femi Otedola, reportedly clashed at the National Assembly.
Otedola was at the House to answer questions relating to the $620,000 bribery
scandal involving a lawmaker, Farouk Lawan.
The billionaire businessman appeared
before the committee but he refused to testify, submitting in a terse speech
that he would only do so if the session would be broadcast live on a national
television where Nigerians and the media could watch him.
After 120 minutes behind closed
doors, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Gambo Musa, told journalists,
“Unfortunately, he (Otedola) was misguided, either by his lawyer or some people
not to talk to us. We did all we could to explain our powers under the
constitution (1999), but Otedola refused to answer questions.
“He said that he would do so only in
public. He went further to insult us in one way or another but we allowed him.”
Musa added, “We reminded him of the
consequences of not answering our questions. We even asked him to produce
whatever evidence he submitted to the SSS and the police as proof but he
refused.
“How do you solve a problem when
someone refuses to talk? He refused to answer our questions and he insulted us;
it was very stupid of him because he was just laughing.
“He said he was a businessman and
not hungry like us. Are we hungry? Is anyone hungry here?”
The proceedings in the House took
place just as a second audio clip of the bribery transaction between Otedola
and Lawan hit the airwaves on independent Channels Television. (See full text
of the clip)
On Tuesday, Otedola arrived at the
venue of the House panel sitting at about 1.50pm, 10 minutes ahead of the
scheduled 2pm fixed for the hearing.
After the usual preliminaries, Musa
invited the Zenon Oil boss to take his seat, while journalists were asked to
leave the venue.
Musa explained that it was the
tradition of the panel to conduct its hearing in camera. He added that Lawan
had already been heard in camera and that Otedola’s case would not be
different.
“We are going to be fair to Lawan
and Otedola and ensure that justice is done in the course of this
investigation”, Musa stated before the doors were shut.
At the private visiting, Otedola was
said to have insisted that he would not speak in camera.
He told the committee that he would
only testify in the presence of “Nigerians and the media in particular.”
Outside the hall, Otedola refused to
speak directly on what transpired between him and the committee members.
He directed all questions from
journalists to his lawyer, saying, “My solicitor will speak to you.”
The solicitor, Mr. Jide Koku (SAN),
said his client believed that the matter should be heard in the open and not in
camera.
He said, “It is a matter that should
be dealt with in the public but the committee did not agree.
“As far as Mr. Otedola is concerned,
it is important to say that Mr. Farouk Lawan has been inconsistent.
“At one point, he denied collecting
money; at another point, he admitted to have collected.
“Mr. Otedola does not feel that this
is an issue that should be held in camera.
“However, the committee is not happy
but Otedola is a law-abiding citizen.”
Musa, as part of his comment on what
transpired in camera, noted that in spite of being assured of protection and
given the opportunity to state his side of the allegation, Otedola laughed at
lawmakers and insulted them.
“Our position is that we invited him
and he refused to talk. So, we will continue to do our job and invite other
parties to the case. Our committee will do this job to its conclusion”, he
said.
Findings indicated that Otedola
actually came with a prepared text, which contained his objection to the
procedure of the hearing.
The document, which was addressed to
the committee and signed by Otedola, reads, “This is a matter that has
generated a lot of public interest and controversy.
“The House of Representatives
Committee on the Management of Fuel Subsidy headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan held
all its sittings in public.
“When this issue arose, the House of
Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges publicly stated that its
investigations would be held in public.
“It is therefore surprising and
curious that this committee has made a U-turn to hold its investigative
sittings in camera particularly in the light of unfolding events.
“I strongly believe that the
interest of the public will not be best served if this investigation is held in
camera.
“I have nothing to hide and will
only speak on this issue when this investigation is conducted in a very
transparent manner and the press as well as the general public are allowed to
be present at the sittings of this committee from the beginning of its
investigation to its conclusion.
“Thank you.
Femi Otedola, CON, 3rd July, 2012.”
New audio tape released
Lawan: it wasn’t like my brother talking.
That’s one. Secondly, please this thing that we are doing, keep it to yourself
otherwise you will make it difficult for us …
Otedola: Ok, ok. I am na
Lawan: Because somebody called me
now and said that we said we are going to address it.
Otedola: address what?
Lawan: Yea. Because if it is already
out that we are going to do something, when we do it, people will think that we
are doing it because we have been compromised. And you know that is something
that errrrr… And if my colleagues get to hear about it, I wouldn’t be able to
convince them. So keep it to yourself.
Otedola: ok
Lawan: Let it not be like anybody is
aware of what is happening. If anybody ask you, simply explain that this thing,
you know from your records. You have all records and you have made a case to
the committee. You have sent your documents to the committee
Otedola: Yea, Yea
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