…gives Okonjo-Iweala ultimatum to appear before it

BY BEN AGANDE & GODWIN ORITSE

ABUJA – The Ad Hoc Committee of the House of Representatives investigating the concessioning agreement between the Federal Ministry of Finance and Single Window Systems and Technology Ltd, SWST, on the generation of revenue for the Nigerian Customs Services yesterday heard that the company did not follow due process in reaching its agreement as no government agency involved in the agreement took part in the process leading to its signing.

This came on the heels of the decision of the committee to issue an ultimatum to  the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to appear before it today or face sanctions.

At their separate appearances yesterday, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, office of the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, all denied knowledge of the concession.

It will be recalled that the committee which had to postpone its sitting last week was constituted by the House to conduct public hearing to ascertain the processes leading to the agreement which its proponents claimed was capable of generating over N300 billion for the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS.

Though the Minister of Finance failed to honour the committee’s invitations for the second time yesterday, she had written to the committee informing it of the ministry’s decision suspending the concession agreement.

But the chairman of the Committee, Hon. Leo Ogor however, insisted that the committee would continue with its work, the said suspension not withstanding.

During its appearance yesterday, the ICRC, the body responsible for regulating such relationships disclosed that SWST did not go through the prerequisite due process.