“THE EFCC is working on the report, so we must give them the chance to do their job. We have to build water-tight cases if we hope to get any conviction for any wrongdoing, and the law demands proof.”
Those were the words of President Goodluck Jonathan, Thursday, in Brussels, Belgium, where he addressed members of the Diaspora community of Nigerians resident in the country.
The president is currently on a visit to the country to partake in the ongoing 119th/120th session of the World Customs Organization taking place in Belgium, where he will be delivering a keynote address to the body.
Speaking to the Nigerian audience, President Jonathan said that there would be no hiding place for anyone indicted as the investigation into the oil subsidy deals proceeds.
He said that the investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was to establish incontrovertible cases against those who might have committed offences for the anti-graft agency to charge them to court.
Jonathan, who urged Nigerians in the Diaspora to be patient with his government on the issue, assured that the report would be implemented.
The President was in the country to deliver a keynote address to the 119th/120th sessions of the World Customs Organization.
The President called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to join his transformation agenda by investing in industries at home to create jobs. He noted that many developed countries had reached this position because their citizens resident outside had gone back to invest there.
The president’s remarks came as the Committee of Ethics and Privileges in Nigeria’s House of Assembly announced on Thursday that it had summoned the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Mr. Femi Otedola, to make himself available before the committee on July 3rd.
The summon follows the appearance of Mr. Farouk Lawan before the committee on Thursday, where he accepted that he indeed accepted the $620,000 bribe from Mr. Otedola, allegedly to influence the decision of a Subsidy Review Committee previously headed by Mr. Lawan.
Mr. Lawan has since denied it was bribe money, saying he only collected it as evidence in his supposed plan to expose the Zenon boss.
Thursday’s announcement of the summons issued to Mr. Otedola was made by Mr. Gambo Musa, who confirmed that his committee had quizzed Mr. Lawan earlier in the day. Lawan arrived the House of Representative about 1pm in the afternoon for the appearance before the Ethics Committee.
Journalists were asked to leave the venue of the Thursday’s deliberations, shortly after the prayers were said and the chairmen gave his opening remarks. Chairman Musa said that he had to ask for the quizzing of Lawan to be done out of public eye to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation process.