Reps tackle Sagay over comments against NASS members

Notable members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday warned Professor Itse Sagay, chairman, Presidential Committee on Anti-Corruption against heating the polity with unguided comments credited to him that Nigerian lawmakers are promoters of corruption.

The lawmakers who reacted to Sagay’s comment, including: Pally Iriase, Majority Deputy Chief Whip; Edward Pwajok (APC-Plateau), who spoke few minutes after defecting from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressive Congress (APC), argued that the wild allegation could throw the county into chaos and anarchy.

Iriase (APC-Edo) noted that the Legislature cannot be gagged by any arm of government or individual to set aside such damning report about a nominee for a sensitive public office such as chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While describing Sagay’s allegation as a wild one designed to cast aspersion on the List, he applauded the Department of State Security (DSS) on the report.

“This kind of unguarded statements otherwise coming from highly respectable people like Itse Sagay could cause skepticism and reduce faith in our democracy

“The issue of Magu cannot be blamed on the Legislature without reference to the fact that the Directorate of State Security (DSS) who consistently issue reports that cast serious aspersion on the fitness of the gentleman in question.

“In other climes, such state agencies like the DSS are usually relied upon for under-cover investigation to enable Parliament gain helpful insight into the pedigree, antecedents and track-record the person brought forward for confirmation.

“Therefore I did not see why instead of being curious of a sister agency under the Presidency should give damning report about a candidate for confirmation to an important office like EFCC and yet the blame is being on the Senate,” the Edo lawmaker noted.

In a separate interview with BusinesDay, Pwajok observed that the refusal by the Presidency to subject the screening of Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to the Senate, tantamount to corruption.

“The Constitution and the law setting up the EFCC spelt out how the appointment of the EFCC chairman should be done through confirmation by the Senate.
Infact not doing so is even corruption.

“I put it to him that he should go and read the law all over again. The National Assembly is an arm of government, if you look at he Constitution, National Assembly is on chapter 4, the Executive is on Chapter 5 while the Judiciary is on chapter 6. So if he (Sagay) wants to rubbish National Assembly as an Institution, you are promoting chaos and anarchy in the polity.

“If there are members that he feels he has problems with, that does not mean he should rubbish the entire Institution. The National Assembly is elected by Nigerians, so it means he’s rubbishing the entire Nigerians.

“If those who elected members of the National Assembly are not happy with any member, whether in the Senate or House of Representatives, they can recall that member, rather than making blanket condemnation on the entire National Assembly as an institution. Unfortunately, because he is an elder, I think he should withdraw that statement,” Pwajok urged.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja