Reps panel commits to full probe of alleged fraud in NEMA

THE House of Representatives Commi ttee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness investigating alleged cases of fraud at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has vowed to probe the matter irrespective of whose ox is gored.

The committee, which is investigating alleged violation of public trust in the agency, said that it has discovered a campaign of calumny from some quarters aimed at discouraging it from carrying out its responsibility.

Briefing correspondents on the matter, the committee, represented by four of its members namely: E. J. Agbonayinma, P. O. Akpatason, Gabriel Onyenwife and Amiru Idris, said it was investigating the release of N5.9 billion food intervention in the Northeast.

It said the committee was also investigating the release of N3.1 billion food intervention in the Northeast, release of N1.6 billion for Libya returnees and the release of N1.6 billion for flood intervention in 16 states of the federation.

Others are the donation of 6,779 metric tons of rice by the Chinese govern- ment; payment of about N800 million demurrage on the donated rice by Chinese and the unaccounted N10 billion release from ecological funds.

Spokesman of the committee, Agboniayinma said: “Attention of the House of Representatives has been drawn to reports on the “Need to investigate alleged violation of public trust in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“We also want to put the record that as at today, there is no petition from any staff of NEMA to the committee or the House of Representatives.”

MIXED reactions have trailed President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Festus Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and activist, as the spokesperson of his 2019 Campaign Organisation.

The appointment letter, dated April 16, 2018 was signed by a former governor of Rivers State and Director General of the President Buhari campaign organisation, Rotimi Amaechi.

According to the letter, Keyamo’s appointment would help the president to secure the nomination of his party as its presidential candidate and to ensure the success of the subsequent campaigns for the 2019 presidential poll

Keyamo has been an ardent defender of the Buhari administration. President Buhari had before his visit to the United Kingdom last week disclosed his intention to seek re-election for another term of office in the 2019 general election at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Keyamo, in a tweet yesterday confirmed his appointment, adding that he would make an official statement soon.

He wrote, “With this letter below, I have just been appointed the Director, S t ra teg i c Communications (Official Spokesperson) for the President’s 2019 Presidential Campaigns.

“I will be making a formal statement on this much later.”