Date Published: 06/02/11

$5 Million Scam: House clears Former Speaker Etteh

Mrs. Patricia Etteh

 Former Speaker and Nigeria's first female head of the House of Representatives, Chief Mrs. Patricia Olubunmi Etteh who resigned her position following allegation of a N628 Million fraud has been cleared from all allegations via a resolution passed by the House at its valedictory sitting.

In September 2007, she faced a committee of the House of Representatives over accusations that she had authorized the spending of 628 million Naira (about US$5 million) on renovations of her official residence and that of her deputy, and the purchase of 12 official cars meant for the House of Representatives. Accusations of theft were chanted at her as she tried to speak in the House, and she was escorted out by security as the situation degenerated into a commotion.

The PDP officially continued to back Etteh, although some members, such as Isyaku Ibrahim , criticized this stance. Author and academic Wole Soyinka was among those who called for her resignation while former President and PDP member Olusegun Obasanjo continued to support her. On 30 October, following weeks of pressure, Etteh resigned her position as speaker. Her deputy, Babangida Nguroje , also resigned.

However, in a motion moved by Hon. Ita Enang, the outgoing Chairman of the Business and Rules and Senator elect, Akwa Ibom State and seconded by Hon. Uche Ekwunife, Anambra, the Reps noted that since the House never indicted the former Speaker of any allegation of corruption, the House should resolve to clear her from any wrong doing.

The motion followed Hon Etteh's valedictory speech which was laced with some subtle protest over the way and manner she was forced to resign as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

"Since I resigned from the position of the Speaker, I have not said anything about that because I have advisers whose counsels I listen to. I set up a committee to investigate the allegation against me and up till today, I have not seen the report and this House has not indicted me for anything even though news reports have been writing and claiming that I have been indicted."

According to Etteh who was very emotional in her speech, "I want this House to pass a resolution that no report of any allegation against me has indicted me of any wrong doing. I have never in my life stolen a penny from anywhere."
However, a nine member committee headed by David Idoko investigated the allegations against the former Speaker. The committee released a 19 page report concluding that:

Panel Conclusions:

1.       Tender not advertised

2.       No in-house bill of quantities and drawings (Architecture, Structural, Electrical and Mechanical) as such there was NO basis for arriving at the approved contract sum.

3.       No specific budget for renovation and furnishing of the official residence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the 2007 budget.

4.       No specific budgetary provision for the purchase of vehicles for principal officers in the 2007 budget.

5.       The procedure for the awards for the body of principal officers on 12 July 2007 shows major acts of omission and disregard for lay down procedures.

6.       The memorandum for the award of contract presented at the body of principal officers at the 12 July 2007 meeting was raised before quotations for jobs were processed. The contract letter was issued on July 6 th 2007 prior to the meeting of the body of Principal Officers.

7.       Some of the companies issued contracts were not registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), therefore they lacked capacity to compete for contract since the law does not recognize them as companies.

8.       It appears that some principal officers of the House of Representatives were excluded at the meeting of 12 July, 2007 as they were not served notices of meeting.

9.       The contract sum of N238, 252,152 in respect of the renovation and furnishing of the Speaker’s residence was for the main house, not inclusive of cluster of structures in the compound.

10.  All quotations relating to the renovation and furnishing contracts directed to the office of the Speaker and those directed to the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly were first acted upon by the Hon. Speaker for the attention of the Clerk to the National Assembly directing him to process.

The members of the committee are; Reps David Idoko (Chairman), Depo Oyedokun, Rabe Nasir, Yakubu Dogara, Sani Saleh Minjibir, Chinedu Eluemonor, Habeeb Fashinro, Nasir Mohmmed and Peter Umoh.