Indicted oil marketers for trial, says govt


THE Federal Government yesterday gave its word that it would prosecute all oil marketers indicted by the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on the probe into the management of petroleum subsidy.  Apparently in line with this resolve, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan yesterday established a 15-member committee to verify and reconcile the findings of the technical committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Finance to conduct a detailed review of all subsidy claims and payments made in 2011.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, has stated that the House would remain focused in spite of plots orchestrated by some forces affected by the oil subsidy report to distract the House from its legislative duties and oversight functions.
He noted that the N422 billion uncovered recently by a committee set up by the Federal Government as over-payment of fuel subsidy to oil marketers was a tacit reaffirmation of the report of the House on the mismanagement of oil subsidy funds.
The deputy speaker spoke on Wednesday when the Human Rights Writers Association presented him an award as the most friendly human rights politician in the country at his office in Abuja.
But   a member of the House, Simon Arabo, yesterday expressed outrage over the methodology employed by the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges in carrying out the investigative hearing on the $3 million allegedly collected by embattled former Chairman of the ad-hoc committee on subsidy regime, Farouk Lawan.
Raising a point of order bordering on privilege, Arabo, a lawyer, also criticised the committee Chairman, Gambo Dan-Musa who, according to him employed the use of uncouth language when he presided over the panel at the end of the closed-door session with business mogul, Femi Otedola on Tuesday.
The lawmaker told his colleagues that the modus operandi and hot exchange and other misdemeanor which transpired between the members and Otedola during the investigative panel were capable of rubbishing the credibility of the assignment aimed at ascertaining the veracity of the claims made by Otedola.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) who reiterated government’s commitment to the fight against corruption, however, said it would comply with the rule of law in bringing indicted oil marketers to book.
The AGF who expressed this position through his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo (SAN) said that  “no fact-finding committee can indict a person except the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).”
Adoke also used the opportunity to debunk a publication in one of the national dailies which suggested that government would not prosecute the indicted oil marketers, describing it as untrue and misleading.
He stated that the report of the Farouk Lawan-led House of Representatives Committee on the probe of petroleum subsidy, “is not useless but a foundation for further investigation” by the relevant agencies of government like the police, EFCC and the ICPC.
According to the minister, any person who commits any criminal offence would be investigated and if found wanting by any of the investigating agencies, would be prosecuted by the Federal Government in the court of law and if found guilty, they would be jailed.
He said: “If next week the report of the investigating agencies on any of the oil companies indicted by the House of Representatives Committee is out and it is reliable and conclusive, the Federal Government will go to court and prosecute the company.”
However, the AGF said that he would not take any step that could go contrary to the rule of law, adding that the Federal Government takes the issue of corruption seriously and must not compromise on fraud matters where they exist.
According to him: “The principle of rule of law is a strong pillar upon which this government operates and that means that where parties have turned their case to a court of law; parties will not take laws into their hands but stay actions till the final determination of the case by the court.
“The Federal Government will prosecute all those found culpable of corrupt practices on the basis of the investigations of competent statutory agencies vested with powers to conduct criminal investigations and prosecution will commence thereafter.
“The present suit instituted by Integrated Oil and Gas Limited does not in any way fetter the powers of the agencies investigating the matter, it does not restrain the government from prosecuting and recovering money due to the Federal Government by marketers found culpable of violating the laws of the land.
“The Honourable Attorney-General of the federation will not condone corruption and illegality but will always stand by the rule of law and due process at all times.”
President Jonathan has directed the 15-member committee headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to begin work immediately and conclude its assignment by July 13, 2012 as a prelude to immediate action on all identified cases of fraud.

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