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By Jonas Ike, Abuja
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An Ad-hoc Committee of the House of Representatives probing alleged fraud in data collection used for revenue allocation by the Chairman Revenue, Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission RMAFC has threatened to issue warrant of arrest on the agency helsman Mr. Suleiman Abba Gana.
Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee Hon. Mark Gbillah (Benue, APC) issued the threat on Tuesday at the House of Representatives wing, National Assembly where the Committee held an investigative hearing on the matter.
The lawmaker had frowned that the Chairman and members of the Commission did not turn up for the investigation saying that the House will commence the process of issuance of bench warrant of arrest on the top government officials.
He hinted that the RMAFC Chair and other members of the Commission didnt deem it necessary to honour the Committee’s invitation to the hearing describing it as recalcitrant behavior from the top government functionaries.
He further regretted that 33 state chief executives did not appear or send representatives at the hearing adding that they would continue to hold them accountable to all funds entrusted to them for public use
The APC lawmaker also noted that the present revenue sharing formula is skewed in favour of some states and local councils of the federation and described the development as unfortunate.
Similarly Speaker of the House Hon. Yakubu Dogara who declared the hearing open said that the essence of the investigative hearing is to ascertain the veracity of allegations against the agency.
Dogara who was represented by the Deputy Minority Whip Hon Binta Bello said that the House investigation is to offer the opportunity of fair hearing to the invited public officials.
Other members of the Committee notably Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa, APC), Hon.Mohammed Sumaila (Kaduna,PDP) and Hon. Dorathy Mato (Benue, APC) also regretted that the invited officials were not present and called for a reschedule of the investigation.
The investigation according to the lawmakers is in line with the provisions of Sections 62, 89 and Section 11 of the Legislative Houses Powers and Privileges Act which empowers the House to investigate public officials with a view to ensure accountability, transparency and probity in the use of public funds by government officials.