Posted by By Tashikalmah Hallah & Francis Okeke on
Threats, curses and abuses heralded yesterday's sitting of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges investigating the alleged purchase of 380 units of Peugeot 407 cars worth N2.3 billion by the House of Representatives from the cars' local manufacturer, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Plc of Kaduna.
Threats, curses and abuses heralded yesterday's sitting of the Committee on Ethics and Privileges investigating the alleged purchase of 380 units of Peugeot 407 cars worth N2.3 billion by the House of Representatives from the cars' local manufacturer, Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN) Plc of Kaduna.
"You are stupid", "You're a fool", and "Who are you?" were some of the phrases freely hurled by committee members at the lawyer Mr. Festus Keyamo, who wrote a letter to the House and its leadership demanding a probe. Keyamo shouted in response, "I did not abuse them oh" and later changed his tone, repeatedly saying, "You must account! 'You must account!"
The committee is investigating the purchase of cars after a Newswatch magazine published a story alleging impropriety in the transaction. Lagos-based lawyer Keyamo then followed up with a petition to Speaker Dimeji Bankole, demanding explanations on the transaction. He also petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking it to investigate the matter. He told the Ethics and Privileges Committee yesterday that the investigation has already started with the appearance of PAN's management before the EFCC.
However, at the committee's maiden sitting yesterday, decorum was thrown to the dogs as the Members almost exchanged blows with Keyamo over documents he submitted following his private investigation into the purchase of the cars.
Tempers rose when one committee member, Yakubu Dogara (PDP, Bauchi State) put it to Keyamo that the documents he had been brandishing before the public on the purchase of the 380 units of Peugeot 407 cars for members were not authenticated.
Although Keyamo agreed that the documents, especially those attached to the letter he wrote to the Speaker were not authenticated, he argued that what mattered was the relevance of the documents and not whether they were authenticated or not.
Said Keyamo, "No, it is morally wrong to turn the searchlight on how documents are obtained. I am prepared to face any charges in respect of this matter. I was charged in 1999 by the police for obtaining their documents against a sitting Senator of this National Assembly".
"Rules of evidence state that no matter the illegality of the way you obtain evidence, it is admissible in court", he said. Dogara agreed but added, "I agree with that conclusion but the Supreme Court equally says that the way and manner in which those evidences were obtained were a matter for criminal proceedings." Keyamo retorted that, "I am prepared for that, I am prepared for that".
When Dogara insisted that as a lawyer, Keyamo should not have been harping on documents that he did not make any effort to authenticate, the human rights lawyer flared up and, shouting on top of his voice, he said as a citizen of Nigeria, he has the right to obtain documents from any source as far the documents are relevant to his investigations.
In the heat of the drama that followed the legislator's insinuation that the documents were not authentic, a rain of abuses was showered on Keyamo.
"Street boy!" Rep War-man Ogoriba called Keyamo, adding, "Who are you? If you think you can come and play to the gallery here, you'll not succeed". Rep John Kalipa, Nnena Ukeje, Jerry Manwe, Onyema Chukwuka Winfired soon joined Ogoriba in hurling abuses.
The matter went out of control when Rep Ahmed Mustapha (ANPP, Bauchi) asked Keyamo which part of the constitution empowered him to obtain documents.
Keyamo flared up and despite the chairman of the Committee, Rep Sani Saleh Minjibir's hitting the gavel several times calling the meeting to order, Keyamo continued to shout.
The chairman had to hurriedly discharge Keyamo, but the rain of abuses continued and it almost ended in fisticuffs when a member, Onyema Chukwuka Winfred stood in Keyamo's way as he was leaving the committee hearing room.
However, Festus Keyamo, after stepping out from the venue, declared that his suspicion that the Committee on Ethics and Privileges would not grant justice to the needy was confirmed by the hostility exhibited by some Members of the Committee.
According to him, "This is a proceeding that is designed to send the matter to burial ground. I will not relent, I will continue my crusade, I will not turn. I will continue with my crusade to another level. I may not get justice here, I will get justice somewhere else. They must give account on every single public money that they take. They must give account on how these monies are used or misused". He said he has petitioned the EFCC and he would petition the ICPC and every other security agency.
Meanwhile, the Speaker has alleged that there are subterranean moves to further discredit the House of Representatives and his person through some publications on various capital projects carried out in the House of Representatives.
Bankole, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Idowu Bakare, said the latest move includes circulation of falsified documents relating to various capital projects carried out in the House as contained in the Budget 2008. He said forged documents relating to the purchase of office equipment like photocopiers and pool vehicles are being bandied around, purporting same to be official contract papers.
Though the documents in question appears harmless on its face value given the annexure which suggests that it followed due process, there is an undercurrent machination to assault the integrity of the leadership using issues that relate to the contract award, Bankole said.