Abuja Chamber crisis: N/Assembly intervenes to restore order

The House of Representatives has waded in to facilitate order and normalcy at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABUCCI) over the crisis of confidence that rocked the chamber.

At its investigative hearing session last week the House Committee on Public Petitions commenced proceedings in respect of a petition by some members of the chamber who referred to themselves as the Concerned Members.

In the petition the concerned members are asking the National Assembly to investigate in the public interest a series of actions by the executive committee of the chamber which they consider to be outside the provisions of its constitution.

A mild drama ensued at the hearing when the Chairman House Committee on Public Petitions Honourable Ike Abonta called up the petition and a lawyer Salawu Olatunji representing the Chamber claimed that the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the committee as it was before a court of law.

This claim was however countered by the leader of the Concerned Members Chief Vincent Ighile, who clarified that there was no such court case. The Committee Chairman however directed the chamber’s representative to produce evidence of litigation that should bar the committee from entertaining the matter at the next hearing date of Wednesday, December 16 ,2015.