It's vindictive mission against Buhari - Group reacts to House committee probe on NEMA DG

macfranc007 May 31, 2018 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- The coalition for Good Governance has alleged that members of the House of Representative are on a vindictive mission against President Muhammadu Buhari

- CGG said the House committee's investigation against the director general of NEMA is a "diversionary persecution'

- According to CGG, the lawmakers are more focused on "self-seeking" missions rather than carrying out appropriate probe on the alleged corruption in the agency

A group has accused the House of Representatives committee investigating the alleged corruption at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of engaging in "diversionary persecution'.

The coalition for Good Governance (CGG) said the committee investigation on the alleged corrupt practices by the director general of the agency, Mustafa Maihaja, is self-seeking.

At a briefing with journalists in Abuja, the executive director of CGG, Jaiyeola Mohammed, said despite overwhelming evidence brought before it by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the lawmakers have devoted all its energy and wisdom in probing the tenure of Maihaja.

The group also said it wondered why the indicted, suspended, but reinstated directors by the order of the House of Representatives are still in custody of files containing critical documents that would aid EFCC investigation into the fraud.

Mohammed said: "The twist is why would the House of Representatives take over a case being handled by the EFCC, the agency lawfully vested with the powers to prosecute persons involved in financial crimes? Equally disturbing is why the House committee has overlooked or abandoned a glaring case to concentrate its probe on the vague case against the NEMA boss? what is the motivation that has informed this suspect decision?

"Therefore, we feel it is nothing rather than to execute its vindictive mission against President Muhammedu Buhari, by nailing his appointees. So, in the pursuit of this agenda, the House Committee has cooked up frivolous allegations against the current NEMA boss, Engr. Maihaja, claiming he abused due process in some contracts awarded by the agency, running into billions of naira."

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She said though the probe by the House committee on the NEMA boss has continued, but unfortunately, it has found nothing concrete or incriminating to nail the current NEMA boss.

According to her, the House committee has also ignored petitions by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) drawing its attention to the pending alleged fraud case against the former NEMA DG and the directors.

"Unfortunately though, the House Committee has turned unbearable heat and pressure on the current NEMA DG, Engr. Maihaja to the extent of threatening to arrest the DG, who on two occasions, could not honour the committee’s invitations, because of pressing official engagements, but deemed it necessary to send representatives while he was on official visit to Benue and other states," she added.

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Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that members of the the House had ordered the immediate recall of all the directors suspended by the governing council of the agency. The directors were suspended over the recommendation of the EFCC.

Some of the affected officers recalled are director of finance and accounts, Akinbola Gbolahan; Ag. director, special duties, Umesi Emenike; and director, Risk Reduction, Mallam Alhassan Nuhu.

Others are pilot in charge of Air Ambulance and Aviation Unit, Mamman Ali Ibrahim; the Chief Maintenance Officer, Ganiyu Yunusa Deji; and the Director of Welfare, Kanar Mohammed.

The EFCC stage a walk against corruption on NAIJ.com TV