$620,000 bribery scandal: Reps divided over Otedola demand on public hearing

Members of the House of Representatives are divided over the need for a public hearing by their Committee on Ethics and Privileges on the $620,000 bribery scandal involving a member of the House, Mr. Farouk Lawan, and oil businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola in camera.

Trends.com.ng gatered that although there was a move to nip in the bud the controversy generated by Otedola’s refusal to testify before the panel in camera, the House has been unable to reach a consensus on the matter

Investigations by our correspondent showed that the House was worried by the “wrong impression” created in certain quarters that lawmakers had something to hide when they insisted that the ethics committee must sit in camera.

A member of the Ad hoc committee, earlier summoned by the police, the House, disclosed that the House might make a formal statement on the matter this week.

It was learnt that the order of privilege raised by a member from Kaduna State, Mr. Simon Arabo, on the floor of the House Thursday last week, expressed the feeling of many lawmakers about the issue.

Arabo had protested the decision of the ethics committee to insist on hearing Otedola in camera.

It was gathered that the committee might sit this week to review the events of last week and take a position on whether to sit in the open, in the light of the alleged pressure on the House to throw the investigation open.

This means that Otedola may be re-invited to testify in the open if the committee decides to make the hearing public.

source; trends.com.ng