House C’ttee Threatens to Issue Arrest Warrant against on NEMA DG

James Emejo

The House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has threatened to issue a warrant for the arrest of Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for failing to appear before the committee.

It also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Ministry of Finance and other relevant parties to furnish the committee with all transaction details of N5. 6 billion funds released to four companies in relation to the Emergency Food Programme in the North-east.

The committee made this demand after another investigative session on the alleged breach of trust by NEMA at the National Assembly.

According to the committee, the documents are to guide the panel to uncover the mystery surrounding the release of funds and to establish whether it was given to the companies as a loan or under whatever condition.

The decision to ask for the documents arose when beneficiaries of the contract to mop up grains, which were said to have been distributed in the North-east, and the accountant general of the federation said they were selected for the job without asking for a loan to finance it from the CBN, while the bank, on the other hand, insisted that the N5.6 billion was a loan.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ali Isa, also summoned the Director General of NEMA to appear in its next sitting or face a warrant of arrest issued on him to compel him to appear.

This is the third consecutive time the DG is failing to attend the hearing despite repeated invitations from the committee.

Ali said the agency has a penchant for sending notice of its DG’s absence from the meeting either 30 minutes before the hearing commences or when the hearing has already commenced.

He added that the panel will give him one more chance to appear on the 31st of May, 2018, or face sanctions.

Also, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, has denied the involvement of his ministry in the conception, supply and distribution food grains meant for victims of insurgency in the North-east geo-political zone of the country.

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and presidential aspirant, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, yesterday joined the Young Progressive Party (YPP), with a promise to float N1trillion fund for industrial revolution in the country if elected.

Moghalu who lamented the monumental setback the country has suffered due to years of bad and inept leadership, told his youthsdominated audience that YPP has satisfied what is expected of a political party that can give Nigerians the much desired future.

Making his official declaration yesterday in Abuja, Prof. Moghalu described YPP as “a great party with a tantalising promise and a notice of evacuation to Nigeria’s recycled politicians”.

“So, I am here today to announce that in response to the parties of the past, in response to umbrellas that