ABUJA/Nigeria: It had been reported that the deputy senate president, Ike Ikweremadu, the former senate president, and others turned down the invitation of the presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property.
According to Swift Reporters can, an online news medium the former Senate President, Senator David Mark; the current Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ikweremadu; Senator Albert Akpan Bassey; and Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, turned down several invitations from the Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property, inviting them to answer various allegations against them.
According to Swift Reporters, a letter dated 7th March, 2018 addressed to both Senator David Mark and Senator Ike Ikweremadu and acknowledged by the Clerk of the National Assembly requested Sen Mark to appear before the Panel on the 15th March 2018 while Sen Ikweremadu was to appear on the 16th March 2018.
They were invited to make clarifications on the purchase of official government quarters. They neither appeared nor send representative.
Senator Albert Akpan Bassey was invited on the 7th March 2018, the Clerk of the National Assembly acknowledged it on 8th March 2018. Sen Bassey was invited to answer questions on money laundering, misappropriation of funds and diversion of funds.
He was to appear on 13th March 2018. He neither appeared nor send representative.
In the case of Senator Stella Oduah and Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso, their letter dated 7th March 2018 and acknowledged by the Clerk of the National Assembly. They were to appear on the 20th of March, 2018 to make clarifications on the allegations of breach of Code of Conduct on Public Officers and misappropriation of public funds.
The two Senators neither appeared nor send representative before the panel.
It will be recalled that the Presidential Investigation Panel on Recovery of Public Property was set up by President Buhari for recovery of public property in line with the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provision) Act 2004.
All efforts by our reporters to reach all the five Senators proved abortive as they did not pick calls and respond to all text messages sent to them as at press time.
It is unfortunate that all the Senators who are lawmakers did not honour the invitation nor send representatives to clear their names on the allegations against them.
Several civil society organizations, are calling on the Chairman of the Panel Okoi Obono-obla as a matter of urgency; not to hesitate to use all the instrument of the Law to ensure the senators complied with the provision the Law that established the Panel, especially as regards to the Executive Order 006 recently signed by Mr. President.
