The minister of petroleum and the NNPC has challenged the competence of the National Assembly (NASS) to invite them for probe over the N10 billion allegedly spent by the Ministry to maintain its jet.
In the suit filed by Chief Mike Ozekhome SAN at the Federal High Court, Abuja, the Applicants are seeking for an order forbidding the NASS from inviting them to give evidence over the matter.
Trouble started when the NASS mandated their Committees to investigate the alleged squandering of N10 billion over a two-year period on the arbitrary charter and maintenance of a Challenger 850 aircraft for unofficial use by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke
The Applicants wants the court to determine whether the NASS has the power to personally probe or conduct investigation into allegations of fraud or other criminal activities, when such probe is not for the purpose of enabling the NASS to make laws or correct any defect in existing laws.
They also want the court to determine whether the NASS acted ultra vires (above) their powers and functions by sending out invitations to the Applicants when such invitations are not for the purpose of enabling the NASS make laws, or correct any defect in existing laws.
They further want the court to restain the NASS from summoning the them for the purpose of giving evidence or producing any papers, books, records or other documents, which relate to their unpublished official records without the consent of President Jonathan.
They want the court to order the NASS to restrict themselves only to directing the appropriate agencies of FG, i.e. the Police, the EFCC, ICPC, so authorized by law, to conduct such probe or investigation with respect to allegations of fraud, corruption, or other criminal offences alleged to have occurred in the agencies under the Applicants’ supervision, or control.
Source: Daily Trust
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