The Matter of Ifeanyi Ubah: Reps threaten to arrest Okonjo-Iweala, Aig-Imoukhuede

by Hauwa Gambo

The House of Representatives Commission on Public Petitions has signalled yesterday that it is ready to order the arrest of the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the Group  Managing Director of Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imokhuede – whom it has invited twice over the N20bn fuel subsidy dispute between Chairman of Coscharis Motors Limited, Cosmas Maduka, and Managing Director of Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Uba.

The committee, headed by Uzo Azubuike  had postponed its sitting from last week when both had been unavailable. Yesterday, Azubuike was visibly angry that he had been ignored again.

According to a Punch report, he said though the committee was aware that the minister’s mother was kidnapped, it was not a reason to ignore the invitation.

Azubuike added that since the invitation was for the Ministry of Finance, the minister ought to have mandated a representative to present the position of ministry.

He warned that if a representative was not sent to the next sitting of the committee, a warrant of arrest would be issued in the name of the ministry.

It will be recalled that Aig-Imokhuede headed the Presidential Committee on Verification of Subsidy Payments.

On Thursday, his lawayers wrote the committee, saying he no longer functioned in that capacity.

He claimed that his committee had already completed its assignment and submitted a report to the Federal Government.

The Access Bank GMD added that he had no legal authority to appear before any committee in the capacity of head of the presidential panel.

He also pointed out that there were several court cases on the matter the committee was investigating, hence it would be prejudicial for him to speak on it.

But, the committee dismissed the argument and directed that he should appear unfailingly at the next adjourned date.

However, the main actors in the deal gone awry – Maduka and Uba – were present.

But, rather than respond to the questions of the committee, Maduka said the matter was already in court.

His lawyer, Mr. Osita Mbamalu, produced evidence to the committee to buttress Maduka’s argument.

On his part, lawyer to Uba, Mr. Ben Nwosu, opposed the argument that the matter was in court and should not be discussed.

Nwosu appealed to the committee to find ways of asking the  Central Bank of Nigeria to pay his client’s N2.1bn Sovereign Debt Note as approved by the Debt Management Office.

Nwosu also called on the committee to help his client to be paid his N20bn subsidy claims.

According to him, there are “conflict of interests” in the Aig-Imoukhuede report and should be discarded.

“It is not possible for him to be a judge, jury and prosecutor in a matter he has interest”, he added.

The sitting will continue next week.

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