Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh on Monday morning visited Aso Villa, apparently in connection with the contract to renovate her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje.
Embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Olubunmi Etteh on Monday morning visited Aso Villa, apparently in connection with the contract to renovate her official residence and that of her deputy, Babangida Nguroje.
The interest of the presidency was attracted to the controversial contract when the name of President Umaru Yar'Adua was mentioned in the course of defending the deal.
National Security Adviser (NSA) Major General Sarki Muktar (retd) had instructed the Director General of State Security Services (SSS) to investigate the contract.
Sources close to the Speaker's office confirmed that Mrs Etteh actually honoured an invitation from the Presidential Villa.
Mrs Etteh breezed into the National Assembly at about 2.30p.m., betraying no emotion and waving to some people standing at the lobby before moving straight to her office.
She immediately summoned a meeting of her staff which lasted more than 45 minutes.
None of her staff was willing to talk on the subject of the meeting, except that it was summoned by her Special Adviser on Security, Mrs Iqou Minima at the request of the Speaker.
After the meeting with her staff, Etteh also met with the management of the National Assembly, led by the Clerk, Alhaji Ibrahim Arab and the acting Clerk of the House of Representatives, Mr. Niyi Ajiboye.
The speaker, deputy speaker, house leader, deputy house leader, chief whip, the clerks, directors of finance and supplies, legal services, works, constituted the tenders board that awarded the controversial contracts.