Posted by From JAMES OJO, Abuja on
Federal Government's decision to re-engage a company blacklisted by the National Assembly has drawn the ire of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye, who described that action as morally wrong for a government that preaches the rule of law and due process.
Federal Government's decision to re-engage a company blacklisted by the National Assembly has drawn the ire of a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dino Melaye, who described that action as morally wrong for a government that preaches the rule of law and due process.
Siemens, a German company was found guilty of several shady deals by the National Assembly, prompting the Federal Government to suspend it from doing business in Nigeria for allegedly offering $14million bribe to secure a telecommunication contract in December 2007.
The probe of the power sector by the House Committee on Power and Steel of $16 billions also revealed that the German company was involved in severally phony contracts by the NIPP and PHCN.
But on Tuesday, the Federal Government made a u-turn and named Siemens as one of the companies to benefit from a partnership with Germany as part of the intervention measures in the power sector.
Siemens is to serve as leading engineer in the power projects to provide six units of Small Bonny Light Crude Oil/ HFO turbines in Kaduna state by 2010.
Reacting to the fresh engagement of a blacklisted company by the Yar'Adua administration, Dino said it was unfortunate that the Federal Government decided to sign a contract involving a company that was involved in $14 million bribery scandal to secure telecommunication contract in 2007.
'It is most unfortunate that the Yar'Adua government that claimed to be the apostle of due process and rule of law has manifested what I call improper and immoral characteristic.
'One will feel very bad that Siemens that got blacklisted by the Federal Government on December 6, 2007, sequel to its indictment by the German court which also fined the company 201 Euros for bribing Nigerians, Russian and Libyan government officials to secure juicy telecommunications contract has been brought back by the same government.
Carpeting the government, the former chairman of Committee on Information and National Orientation, noted that for the Yar'Adua government to instantaneously revert the decision not to do business with a corrupt company like Siemens is making a mess of the fight against corruption.
'As a Nigerian, whose views are guaranteed by the constitution, I disagree with the Federal Government on this. Instead of giving business to a corrupt company, government should persecute those indicted in the scandal, rather than to celebrate corruption in this unholy manner.' he added.
According to him, 'The battle to salvage our country of corruption must be a no retreat no surrender battle.'
No amount of threat, blackmail or intimidation will distract or my attention from speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
He hinted that when the House resumes from its recess, he would be coming up with a motion to stop the President from dealing with a blacklisted company like Siemens, describing it as a bad precedent.