By Levinus Nwabughiogu

For two consecutive days last week, members of the House of Representatives bickered over news of the seizure of $9.3m from Nigerian officials involved in a botched arms deal in South Africa. The episode climaxed with allegations of $50.000 bribe given to PDP lawmakers

The ruling by the deputy speaker, Rep. Emeka Ihedioha had prompted spontaneous burst of anger which disrupted sitting last Tuesday.

In their numbers, they marched through the back entrance of the chambers led by the petite but eloquent Rep. Samson Osagie to the Presss Centre.

The All Progressives Congress, APC members in the House of Representatives had been provoked by what they deduced as the actions of the presiding officer and deputy speaker of the House, Rep Emeka Ihedioha on the matter of the $9.3 million cash for arms scandal involving Nigerian officials in South Africa.

They were according to them frustrated that their quest for an exhaustive debate on the matter, but Ihedioha had ruled out debate on the issue preferring to send the issue to a committee of the House.

The Genesis

Rep. Suleiman Kawu, the deputy minority leader had earlier that day under Matters of Urgent National Importance, reminded the House that his motion about the need to investigate the seized $9.3 cash, listed on the order paper the preceding Thursday was not re-listed that Tuesday for debate. He explained that he was not available on the Thursday it was listed because he went on a mission for the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal.

His action raised a stir on the floor. Immediately Ihedioha who had earlier referred the matter to House Committee on Rules and Business asked its chairman, Hon. Sam-Tsokwa to explain and probably suggested a leeway.

In his explanation, Tsokwa said Kawu’s absence stalled the debate, adding “So, there was nothing we could do about that and I advised we step it down. He did not inform the Rules & Business (committee) that he was travelling with the Speaker and we were not given enough notice for the motion to be taken.”

When he was not certain he would have his way, Kawu said “Mr Speaker, I hope you are giving me the assurance that my motion will be taken tomorrow if it is stepped down today.”

But before he could sit down, Ihedioha gave his nod for the motion to be taken immediately, saying he had consulted with the leadership of the House.

The motion

Moving the motion, Kawu said that “the report in the City Press Newspaper of South Africa on September 5, stated that two Nigerians and an Israeli citizen flew into Lanseria International Airport, northwest of Johannesburg, in a Challenger 600 Jet piloted by one Captain Tunde Ojongbede while carrying the sum of $9.3m cash.”

The motion sought a “thorough investigation of the matter” by the House committees on Defence and Aviation, to be reported back within two weeks.

He insisted that the integrity of the country was at stake if nothing was done and demanded the Parliament to debate it.

After the motion was read, Ihedioha, however, proposed that the motion be voted on immediately without a debate but the vote on whether or not it should be taken to the committee on national security led to bedlam on the floor.

Briefing the media

At the media center, the minority whip and leader of the opposition, Hon. Samson Osagie, who led the group said the action of the deputy speaker was uncalled for. By way of ventilating their grievances, he also raised questions for the federal government over the seized funds.

The questions that we have for the Federal Government are as follows:

*Is it faster or safer to do an international transaction of such magnitude by ferrying cash across the continent or simply through wire transfer that can go through in matter of seconds or matter of few hours?

*If indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by a foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African government not brought into the picture beforehand and how could the South African government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by the insurgents when there were no officials of the NSA (National Security Adviser) office or the Director, Department of State Service, DSS, that accompanied such money?

*If indeed the manufacturers of such equipment were expecting large sums of money by cash, why did they not make adequate arrangements with the authorities  in South Africa to declare the cash on arrival since it was the law in South Africa that you must declare any amount in excess of 2,500 dollars?

*Why was the money belonging to the Federal Government and meant for the purchase of equipment for the Federal Government moved by a private jet when we have over five to six airplanes in the Presidential air fleet?

* Why would the government that is at the peak of promoting cashless policy in our country be the chief breaker of that policy by moving such amount of cash if indeed, it was a legitimate transaction of the Federal Government?

*why were the officials of our embassy in South Africa not on hand to make the entry easier and smoother? Since the South African government has said the amount was above the limit of cash allowed into the country, why would a whole government like Nigeria not know the simple immigration law of a sister country and why would they have to take it out of the Oliver Tambo International Airport and land in a village where you have a local airport?

*why would the Federal Government seek to carry 9.3 million dollars? A country that is regarded as a giant of Africa smuggling an amount worth 1.5 billion Naira, in a country where citizens are wallowing in poverty for unexplained reasons?

Is it just a wicked coincidence that the aircraft belonging to the President of CAN (Christian Association of Nigeria) was used to carry cash to South Africa?

*If contrary to the above posers, the transactions were contracted out to a private company in Nigeria, does it amount to the offence of money laundering under our laws for the Federal Government to have allowed that company to attempt to pay for the equipment by cash to the tune of that amount without passing through financial institutions?

*For us as a people and for us lawmakers, we find this unacceptable, unethical, illegitimate and in our view, it is an illegal transaction. The Nigerian government owes the Nigerian people an explanation as to what source that money came from.

Day Two

The following day, Wednesday, the issue took another life of its own when members raised issue about news reports that PDP members had been bribed to the tune of $50,000 each to kill the motion the day before.

Tsokwa had raised a point of order that his privileges had been breached through the publications.

Rep. Ali Madaki (APC, Kano) stirred the angst of many PDP members when he rose up and claimed to have leaked the alleged bribery to the press saying that he had it on good authority “that PDP members were given $20,000 each.” He however said it was $20,000 each and not $50,000 he told the press.

The audacious confession again set the House in commotion, bringing it close to free-for-all for some time. But when calm finally returned, the Deputy Speaker committed the matter to Ethics and Privileges Committee for investigation.

Deputy Majority leader kicks

The PDP deputy leader, Rep. Leo Ogor was quick to dismiss the allegation describing it as a fabrication and an act of blackmail.

However, for now, the matter like many other controversial issues has been passed on to the House committee on ethics and public petition. It is expected to die there like the other controversial issues that have passed through the House of Representatives.