Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja. on
Finally, the House of Representatives Committee probing the wastage of $16billion on the power sector has summoned Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, under whose tenure the wastage was allegedly done.
Finally, the House of Representatives Committee probing the wastage of $16billion on the power sector has summoned Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, under whose tenure the wastage was allegedly done.
Curiously, Chief Obasanjo is expected to appear before the Power and Steel Committee, led by Hon Ndudi Elumelu on May 12, 2008 alongside his estranged deputy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman.
President Umaru Yar'Adua first blew the whistle that $10 billion was wasted on the power sector between 1999 and May 2007, while Speaker Oladimeji Bankole discovered additional $6billion appropriated to the sector through budgeting.
According to an invitation letter with reference number HR3/CT.47/26/Vol.1/103, dated May 3rd 2008, sent to Obasanjo Farms, 30, Idiroko/Owode Road, Ota, Ogun State, it was to give the former president fair hearing.
Signed by Mallam S.Y Ahmed, Committee Clerk, the decision to invite Chief Obasanjo to appear in public was taken at the meeting of the Power and Steel committee after reviewing the allegations and counter allegations made by stakeholders in the sector at a public hearing.
'In the course of the public hearing, a lot of allegations and counter allegations were made. References were made also to approvals and directives alleged to have been given by your Excellency as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as in your capacity as chairman of the Federal Executive Council," Chief Obasanjo was informed.
The former president was briefed that the mandate to carry out thorough investigation and conduct a public hearing into how the huge sum of money was expended in the power sector from 1999 to 2007 without commensurate result was vide Resolution HR/07/2008.
Chief Obasanjo was also informed that in carrying out the mandate, the committee indeed conducted a Public Hearing where oral testimonies were made by stakeholders, from the public and private sectors.
'In view of the foregoing, the Committee at its meeting on Tuesday, 22nd April 2008, unanimously resolved that before submitting its report, it is appropriate to give you a fair hearing by inviting you to come and give an insight and perspective into what you know or your role in the execution of projects in the power sector from 1999 to 2007," the committee concluded.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was invited to shed light on what transpired in the power sector in his capacity as the chairman of Implementation Committee on National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).
The invitation extended to Mrs Nenadi Usman, former Minister of Finance was to enable her justify some payments made in respect of the NIPP projects. She had refused to heed the call of the Chairman of the Power Committee, Hon Ndudi Elumelu to appear during the public hearing.
Obasanjo, Atiku and Usman are to appear the same day at the Conference Hall, Zero Floor of the New Building of the House of Representatives Wing of the National Assembly.
All Ministers of Power and Finance under the Obasanjo presidency appeared before the committee, with the exception of Nenadi Usman.
The probe into the power sector had revealed mind -boggling amount paid contractors that could not locate project sites, while some contractors were overpaid the contract sum.