Rep Resigns Over N44m Bribe Allegation …As Speaker Vows To Fight Corruption

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market, Rep. Herman Hembe (PDP-Benue),  yesterday resigned his chairmanship of the committee over a N44 million bribery allegation.

It would be recalled that  the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh last Thursday alleged that the committee demanded N44 million from the commission.

Hembe’s resignation came by way of motion which was unanimously adopted when put to vote by the Speaker AminuTambuwal.

Moving the motion, Hembe said he was resigning due to the weighty allegation against him and his committee.

He added that he  took no bribe as alleged by the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunma Oteh, but “ worked hard to avoid the offer of such” from the SEC DG.

The ethics committee of the House will nonetheless probe the allegation while the public hearing on the operations of the capital market would continue under an ad hoc chairman.

Hon Hembe had met with the leadership of the house over the weekend, insisting he never solicited N44 million as claimed by the DG.

Ms. Oteh alleged the demands – first for N39 million and later for N5 million – were made ahead of the ongoing capital market committee public hearing, and the funds were purportedly meant to finance the sitting. Public hearings are funded by the House, and under the sixth assembly, the figure averaged N5 million for each hearing.

The lawmaker said he never demanded for money from SEC, adding that rather he worked hard to resist any attempt by the committee to collect alleged money.

‘’ Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, I stand before you this morning to reaffirm my innocence, regarding the allegations made against me by the Director – General, SEC.

‘’ I want to be on record that I demanded no bribes and took no bribe, rather I fought hard and rebuffed efforts to be inappropriately influenced.In my innocence, however, I am aware of the impact of these allegation on public perception and as a legal practitioner I am conversant with the principle of law in the exercise of judicial or quasi- judicial functions.

‘’ It becomes inappropriate to continue to preside when allegation bordering on pecuniary interest are made against your person.’’

He said he was willing to submit himself to scrutiny by the EFCC and the ICPC.

‘’ I hereby reaffirm that position here and now, and add that I am further willing to submit myself to the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Ethics and Privileges.

‘’ Consequently, Mr. Speaker, my dear colleagues, I hereby wish to disqualify myself and request the House to withdraw the entire Committee from further conducting of the investigative hearing.

“I remain persuaded, however, that the resolution of this Honourable House to investigate the Nigerian Capital market, remain most honourable and timely and should be carried to its logical conclusion.’’

The lawmaker added that he reserved the right and liberty to go to court  “not only to obtain a judicial stamp of my innocence but to receive full compensation for the obvious damage these spurious allegations have caused me.’’

Meanwhile, an eight- man Ad Hoc Committee has been constituted by the House to carry on with the public hearing.

This was sequel to a motion moved by Rep. Ishaka Bawa (PDP-Taraba), the Chief Whip of the House, which was unanimously adopted.

Leading the debate, Bawa said that the public hearing on the Capital Market was stalled following an allegation and the voluntary withdrawal of the committee.

He called for the constitution of an ad hoc committee to carry out the probe into the collapse of the capital market.

The committee to be chaired by Rep. Ibrahim El – Sudi ( PDP – Tabraba ) is expected to report back to the House within 21 days.

Also the Committee on Ethics and Privileges is to report its findings to the House within 14 days on the alleged bribery.

Addressing members, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal assured Nigerians of the commitment of the House to fight corruption.

He said in trying to fight this war (corruption) ‘’ we must be above board and suspicion. I urged all Nigerians to continue to repose confidence in us as we are determined to fight corruption.’’

Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Aminu Tanbuwal yesterday restated the commitment of the House in the fight against corruption.

Tambuwal gave the assurance at the plenary session while reacting to the resignation of Rep. Herman Hembe (PDP-Benue) as chairman of the Committee on Capital Market and the constitution of an ad-hoc committee.

“ Let me assure Nigerians once again that we are totally committed to the fight against corruption and shall deploy all energies at our disposal to fight this war.

“I wish to urge all Nigerians to continue to repose confidence in the seventh Assembly as we are determined to ensure that your trust is not abused.

“The House of Representatives will continue to be a bulwark against injustice and vanguard for the promotion of good governance and the defence of the interest, yearnings and aspiration of Nigerians.

L-R: Deputy Manager, Public Affairs, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Mrs Edith Johnson; Chairman, Nigeria School of Chemical Engineers Rivers/Bayelsa Chapter, Mr Ben Akaakar, and the Representative of Eleme Council Chairman, Mr Abusemi Ngei, at the Nigeria Society of Chemical Engineers' Quiz Competition in Port Harcourt, on Monday