IN an unexpected move by the leadership of the House of Representatives on Thursday, a ranking member of the House who chairs the committee on education, Representative Farouk Lawan, was replaced by Representative Aminu Suleiman.
Both representatives are members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, they represent Bagwai/Shanono and Kano federal constituencies respectively.
Although Speaker Aminu Tambuwal stated no reason making for the decision on Thursday in Abuja, political observers around Nigeria will easily conclude that it has to do with Rep. Lawan’s recent battles with corruption charges, especially as it pertains to accusations of bribery between him and oil magnate Femi Otedola.
Prior to his replacement, Mr. Lawan had headed the education committee for more than 12 years, having been a ranking member since 1999.
The house suspended Lawan in 2012 in the wake of the counter-accusations of bribery between him an Otedola, in which the latter alleged up to 620 million dollars was requested of him in bribe monies.
Mr Boniface Emenalo, the Secretary of the ad hoc committee investigating the fuel subsidy regime and Lawan have since been arraigned before a court.
The Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Education, Rose Oko (PDP-Cross River), took over as acting chairman after the suspension of Lawan.