Lawyers have expressed displeasure with reports that the embattled Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Maikanti Baru, who was accused of insubordination and award of contracts worth over $25 billion without due process by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, wanted to fete lawmakers, who are supposed to be investigating him, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday.
The NNPC GMD at the last minute called off the dinner that was to take place at 7p.m., according to the invitation card seen by INDEPENDENT and signed by Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu.
In an exclusive interview with INDEPENDENT, Chiefs Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Emeka Ngige (SAN) and President of Aka Ikenga, Barrister Goddy Uwazuruike, said the development is condemnable as it might compromise the lawmakers who also risk losing public confidence on that score.
The invite to the “Special Dinner,” which was obtained by INDEPENDENT, saw Baru extending personal invitation to “Members of the National Assembly” to the dinner that was to be held at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Tuesday, October 31.
It would be recalled that on October 4, the Senate had constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee, led by former Sokoko State governor and senator representing Sokoto North Senatorial District, Aliyu Wamako, to conduct a comprehensive investigation on the allegations lodged by Kachikwu against Baru, particularly in the award of contracts worth over $25 billion without board approval.
Responding to the development, Chief Ozekhome (SAN) said the action of Baru is inappropriate; and that if the lawmakers honoured the invite, it might predispose them to compromise.
He said, “I will say it is very inappropriate, because it will make tongues to wag that there may be compromises intended by the move, and that there may be a plot of scratch-my-back and I-scratch-your-back in the gambit.
“If I were in their position I will not attend such a dinner until the whole investigation is concluded.”
Speaking in a similar vein, Chief Ngige (SAN) reiterated the argument that Baru’s move is intended to compromise the lawmakers.
He said, “My first reaction is that they are about to compromise the lawmakers.
“But if they are honourable people, although they may attend the dinner, that should not stop them from doing their job and making their findings known to Nigerians.
“But having gone there, it has now put them on the spotlight to see how they will end up.
“So it is in their interest that they do their job without fear or favour and according to their consciences.
“If they attend the dinner must not stop them from doing their work. If they fail to do their job, then Nigerians will know they are cheap people.”
Uwazurike’s response is on all fours with his colleagues’ saying it would be unethical for the lawmakers to honour Baru’s dinner date.
He said, “For a person, who is under investigation to invite those who are investigating him, to a dinner is like a judge going to honour the dinner invite of an accused person who is standing trial before him.
“Remember that the Barugate is already in the public domain and people are waiting to hear how far the Senate has gone in trying to get to the root of the matter.
“First of all, the Chairman of that Committee has not even taken a step. It is not the Minister under who you have the NNPC that is calling the lawmakers to a dinner; rather it is the man in the centre of the storm.
“So I think it is unethical. It will show absolute lack of integrity for any senator in the ad hoc committee to take any step to make the dinner date.
“So I think they should not honor the invitation. Going for the dinner will undermine public confidence in the lawmakers; and remember that justice is actually rooted in confidence.
“If those who are watching you think you are not fair, then something is wrong. No matter what the outcome of the probe is, that verdict will never be deemed as fair and sound.”
The post Baru May Compromise NASS Probing Him With Dinner — Lawyers appeared first on Independent Nigeria.
Source: Daily Independent
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