By Emman Ovuakporie & Johnbosco Agbarakwu

ABUJA—THE House of Representatives Committee on IDPs, Refugees & Federal Government Initiatives on North-East, weekend, warned against plans to blackmail members of allegedly soliciting for bribes over alleged N270 million used for clearing waterways grass in Yobe.

In a statement signed by the chairman, Sani Zorro, APC, Jigawa, the committee stated that they were aware of plans to frame members of the National Assembly for allegedly soliciting for bribes, as a ploy to discredit the interactive session between its members and officials of the Presidential Initiative on North East, PINE, held on Friday, October 8.

According to the lawmakers, the plot seeks to distract members of the National Assembly from carrying out their constitutional responsibility of oversight of ministries, departments, agencies and public institutions of government.

House of Representatives

Zoro said: “Their strategy is to create doubt in the minds of citizens, with a view to refusing to reappear before various committees of the House, with intent to discredit and sabotage the legislative arm of government.

“For the avoidance of doubt, members of our committee are interested in ensuring that public funds dispensed from the Appropriation Act have been applied for the purpose they were approved, and other laws and regulations, especially Public Procurement Act, and financial regulations of the federation are strictly complied with.

“I wish to declare that I have not received any allegations of extortion from any government official against members of the committee under my leadership, since we were constituted in September, last year. If true, the dubious plan being hatched should, therefore, be seen for what it is: an afterthought.”