Summary of Plenary proceedings of the House of Representatives for Wednesday, June 7th, 2023
The Speaker of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila presided.
PRESENTATION OF REPORTS
1. Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debt Management: Rep. Ahmed Safana Dayyabu:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the Request of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Issuance of Promissory Notes for the settlement of Top Priority Judgment Debt and General Judgment incurred by the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies” (Referred: 7/6/2023). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Ashiru Mani and seconded by Rep. Unyime Idem.
2. Committee on Capital Market and Institutions: Rep. Babangida Ibrahim:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions on the Need to Investigate the Rising Value of Unclaimed Dividends, Unremitted withholding Tax on Dividend and attendant Effects on the Nation’s Economy” (Referred: 7/11/2019). The laying of the report was deferred due to its inconclusiveness
3. Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 Including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 to date: Rep. Mark Gbillah Terseer:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 including Crude Oil Export from 2014 to date (HR./104/12/2022)(Referred: 20/12/2022). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Mark Gbillah and seconded by Rep. Alkali
4. Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Diversion of 20 Billion Naira by the Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC): Rep. Kingsley Chinda:
“That the House do receive the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Diversion of 20 Billion Naira by the Staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) (HR. 27/04/2023) (Referred: 6/4/2023). The report was laid following a motion by Rep. Kingsley Chinda and seconded by Rep. Abubakar Yalleman.
Before laying the report, however, Rep. Chinda noted that the 10th Assembly will have to continue with the investigation.
ORDER OF THE DAY
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS (HOUSE IN THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE)
1. Committee on Aids, Loans, and Debt Management: Rep. Ahmed Safana Dayyabu:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management on the Request of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the Issuance of Promissory Notes for the settlement of Top Priority Judgment Debt and General Judgment incurred by the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies and approve recommendation therein” (Laid: 7/6/2023).
Approve the Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance to settle outstanding claims and liabilities of MDAs involved in the sum of USD566,754,754,584.31, GB98,526.17, and N226,281,801,881.64. The report was approved, but the job is however not complete and the 10th House of Representatives will have to continue with its findings.
2.Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 Including Crude Oil Exports from 2014 to date: Rep. Mark Gbillah Terseer:
“That the House do consider the Report of the Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in revenue from the Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil in 2015 including Crude Oil Export from 2014 to date and approve recommendations therein” (HR.104/12/2022) (Laid: 7/6/2023).
The resolution of the House as articulated in the votes and proceedings of Tuesday 20th December 2022, gave the Committee a multifaceted mandate hence the decision to provide the findings and recommendations of the committee in order of each related mandate.
Alleged Loss of over $2.4 Billion in Revenue from Illegal Sale of 48 Million Barrels of Crude Oil Export in 2015
Recommendations
(i) The committee advises the National Assembly (Senate and the House), antigraft and other agencies of government not to waste taxpayer’s funds on the further future investigation of these allegations as they appear to be completely fraudulent and unsubstantiated;
(ii) The security and antigraft agencies should be advised to prosecute any of the individuals who initially made these allegations if any one of them continues to peddle these false allegations after the committee’s investigation;
(iii) The Abuja Height court handling the case against the related individuals is advised to resume the hearing and prosecution of the case so justice can be meted out appropriately if any of the individuals are found culpable;
(iv) Mr. Jackson Ude and Point Blank News should be advised to issue a public retraction of their publication of these allegations on their website and other media outlets considering the damage this publication has done to the reputation of related government officials and should strongly be admonished to be more circumspect in their future publications.
HOUSE IN VALEDICTORY SESSION The House commenced the valedictory session following a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, and seconded by the Minority Leader, Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.
