The House of Representatives, Wednesday said there no crude between that speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, and deputy speaker, Benjamin Kalu, over the dissolution of the panel mandated to probe activities in the petroleum industry.
The House, in a statement by its spokesman, Akin Rotimi, said the dissolution of the panel was in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and standing rules of the House.
The Parliament also denied allegations of alleged inducement for the appointment of chairmen of standing committees.
The Green Chamber recently mandated its Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Petroleum Resources ( Midstream) to investigate allegations of unethical practices in the oil and gas sector. However, the House, on Monday, relieved the joint Committee of the responsibility. Nonetheless, it did not give any reason; thereby fuelling speculation of a rift in the leadership over the matter.
Regardless, “That the action taken by the House to dissolve the Ad Hoc Committee on Oil and Gas Investigation did not contravene any rule of the House or any law of the land;
“That at no time did the House leadership or anybody for that matter received inducement for the appointment of any committee chairman. It was an assignment diligently executed by the Selection Committee of the House between June and July 2023, which has a member from each of the states of the federation;
“That there is no rift whatsoever between the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker regarding this or any matter; the duo enjoys a robust and cordial relationship. The two Presiding Officers also have mutual respect for each other, and will not allow anything to come between them.”
