Politics
COVID-19 funds: Reps C’ttee threatens AGF with warrant of arrest
EricJames Ochigbo
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account (PAC) has threatened to issue a warrant of arrest on the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Ahmed Idris.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Wole Oke (PDP-Osun), issued the threat over the failure of the AGF to appear before the committee to defend the amount spent on COVID-19 pandemic response before an investigative hearing.
The investigative hearing, which sat on Monday in Abuja, was on funds so far spent on the pandemic.
Oke said that if the accountant-general failed to appear on June 15, the committee would invoke the relevant sections of the Constitution for his arrest.
“The accountant general should not disrespect the parliament; he should stop disrespecting the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The best the President can do for him is to appoint him as chief accountant; he must appear here on June 15 or we shall do the needful, we shall issue a warrant of arrest on him.
“We have asked him many times to appear and defend financial issues arising from the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation but he is running away,’’ he said.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, told the committee that the centre had so far received N5.620 billion in two tranches.
He said that out of the total amount, N620 million was earlier released to the centre to enable adequate preparedness the moment COVID-19 was declared a pandemic.
Ihekweazu explained that the sum of five billion naira was later released for the actual response after the first case was recorded in the country.
The director-general told the lawmakers that the centre had so far spent a total of N1.2 billion in response to contain the pandemic.
“We have spent N380 million on procurement of medical and laboratory supplies, we spent N250 million on deployment of rapid response team across the country and N192 million on emergency procurement of medical equipment.
“We have spent N142 million on the engagement of ad hoc staff, N101 million on surveillance and response activities, N41 million on various repairs and reconstruction works and N34 million on training.
“We have spent N22 million on supporting the supply chains, N6 million on risks communication and out of that, a total of N41 million was paid as tax in areas where tax is necessary,’’ he said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Musyapha Suleiman, told the lawmakers that a total of N500 million was earmarked for the ministry but only N250 million had been released.
Suleiman said that of the amount released, the sum of N164 million had been spent on the accommodation and feeding of returnees.
Contrary to claims on social media, Suleiman said that the returnees were not bearing the cost of their hotel accommodation and feeding.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Mr Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said that after the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 was set up, N48 billion was approved for the ministry.
He explained that the amount was for the provision of infrastructures across the country and that another N21 billion was to cater for operations.
The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs said it was yet to receive any COVID-19 fund.
The Committee adjourned the hearing to June 15, and demanded all relevant documents and details of expenditures.
Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has dismissed rumors of an alleged plot to impeach him, describing the news as “fake” and AI-generated. Akpabio addressed the issue during Wednesday’s plenary, following reports that operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) had surrounded the National Assembly due to the supposed plan to unseat him.
Akpabio assured the Senate that its leadership remains stable, emphasizing that there is no truth to the impeachment speculations, which he labeled as a “mirage.” He expressed concern over the growing spread of fake news in the media, jokingly suggesting that the matter be referred to the Senate Committee on Police Affairs.
The Senate President referred the issue to the Committee on Special Duties for further investigation, with a report expected within 24 hours. Akpabio has faced recurring impeachment rumors since the 10th Senate was inaugurated in June 2023.
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially inaugurated its newly elected executive committee, led by Abayomi Tella, who will guide the party for the next four years.
During the inauguration, Dada Awoleye, chairman of the caretaker committee, presented the certificate of return to Tella and urged the new executives to focus on securing the party’s victory in the upcoming local government elections on November 16. Awoleye emphasized that this executive committee represents the legitimate leadership of the party in Ogun State and called for efforts to reconcile disgruntled members, highlighting that the party’s success hinges on unity.
In his acceptance speech, Tella expressed the commitment of the new executive to rejuvenate and reposition the party in preparation for the 2027 elections. He acknowledged the potential for differing interests within the party but stressed the importance of managing those differences effectively.
Tella stated, “We’ve started managing our interests, and it is crucial for the party’s progress.”
Over three weeks after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Senator Monday Okpebholo as Governor-Elect in Edo State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, are facing backlash from a pro-democracy group. The Initiative for Democratic Advancement and Free Speech accused the PDP of relying on media propaganda instead of accepting the election results.
Patrick Osaigbovo, the group’s Executive Director, criticized the PDP’s focus on INEC’s Results Viewing Portal (iREV), claiming the party is trying to undermine state institutions. He noted that the PDP failed to engage voters directly and instead relied on external sentiments and media appearances.
Osaigbovo further alleged that the PDP prematurely released results from its “Situation Room” during the election, aiming to sway public opinion. He emphasized that INEC guidelines stipulate that results should be uploaded to the iREV after voting ends.
In response, the PDP Campaign Council’s Deputy Director-General, Reverend Olu Martins, dismissed the accusations as baseless and unsubstantiated, adding that election observers had deemed the process fair at the polling units. The PDP maintains that the election results should be scrutinized to improve Nigeria’s electoral system.
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