NDDC Probe: Reps To Sue Akpabio For Perjury, Civil Defamation

– The House of Representative is set to take legal action against Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for alleged perjury and civil defamation

– The Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila announced this at the plenary o. Thursday, stating that he has directed the Clerk to engage the Lawyer to file a suit against Akpabio

– This directive followed the 48 hours ultimatum the House gave the Minister to prove his allegations

The House of Representatives has vowed to sue Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio for alleged perjury and defamation of the parliament.

Recall that Akpabio had on Monday, while appearing before the House Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission at an investigative hearing, alleged that members of the National Assembly get 60 per cent of contracts from the commission.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila,  on Tuesday, had asked the minister to provide details of the contracts between 24 and 48 hours.

But at the opening of plenary on Thursday, 23 July, Gbajabiamila announced that Akpabio had failed to meet the ultimatum issued to him, to prove his allegation by to publishing the list of members who got contracts from the Niger Delta Development Commission(NCDC).

“The honorable minister has failed to respond to my requests,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, however, said he has directed the Clerk to the House, Patrick Giwa to engage lawyers to file the suit against the Minister.

The Speaker vowed he will not preside over the House and allow anybody tarnish its image for whatever reason.

Gbajabiamila said, “Last Tuesday, I issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate his allegation that over 60 per cent  of contracts awarded by the NDDC went to members of the National Assembly. I said then that the Honourable Minister owed it to himself and the country to provide evidence to support these serious allegations.

“The Honourable Minister has failed to respond to my request. Therefore, I must conclude that his statement intended solely to gaslight the nation to avoid accountability for the evident maladministration and malfeasance in the NDDC.

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“I recognise that the House has not always lived up to the high expectations of the Nigerian people. As much as we still have a lot to do in that regard, I refuse to sit here in good conscience and allow anyone to assassinate the character of the House, in an attempt to deflect accountability for their conduct in office. Such mendacity as was witnessed at the public hearing will not be tolerated from anybody no matter how highly placed.

“This morning, I asked the Clerk of the House to engage the services of legal counsel, and instruct them to initiate a criminal complaint of perjury against the Minister. At the same time, we will instruct counsel to explore the possibility of a civil defamation suit against the Minister.”