The Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Bashir Jamoh, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Koko, and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, were called before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Disposal of Public Property on Thursday. They were asked to defend the agencies’ auctioning off of some public properties.
The summons was issued at the panel’s resumed hearing by Julius Ihonvbere, the committee’s chairman and leader of the House.
The committee is looking into the unlawful auctioning of public property by several departments and organizations.
He declared, “NIMASA and NPA appear to have a well-known propensity to ignore invitations from the parliament. And this will not be tolerated.
“In the 9th Assembly, the Nigeria Customs frequently failed to accept our invites. But this Assembly won’t let it happen. I suggest the CG of Customs to contact the committee clerk and arrange a time to appear and provide the necessary paperwork and information.
“Also, there is no official from the Ministry of Water Resources present. An administration that seeks to alter the course of events and better the lot of Nigerians is off to a very dismal start. I’ll give the permanent secretary the advice to speak with this committee’s clerk and set up a fresh time.
“I have a feeling some of them think what we are doing here is a joke, but by the time they realize it is not a joke, it will be too late,” Ihonvbere continued.
Therefore, before moving forward, we are providing the NPA, NIMASA, Customs, and Ministry of Water Resources another chance to appear before this committee.
Earlier, the Nigerian Railway Corporation’s presentation—made by its liaison officer, Mr. Pascal Nnolie—and the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority’s—made by the MD, Engr. Babalola Olatunji—were both rejected by the panel.
Ihonvbere rejected the NRC proposal and stated, “The records before me are those of 2015 and 2016, which were previously provided to the House committee on public accounts.
The committee and the parliament are being insulted, with all due respect to your MD. You cannot provide us with 2016 documents to use in this situation. This presentation has been turned down by the committee. Bring them back to your doctor, who should respect the committee and present them again in 48 hours.
“You people should be careful with the kind of documents you bring to the National Assembly, knowing that you’re under oath,” the chairman advised the MD of the Ogun-Osun River Basin.
The committee believes that your report does not adhere to the format outlined in the letter that was sent to you. We will withdraw this report and give you 48 hours to complete a comprehensive investigation and submit a new report.
The Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority’s MD, Engr. Mohammed Adara, received praise from the committee for his presentation, nevertheless.
He was instructed to deliver the remaining papers to the House.
