By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly on Thursday threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the State Commissioner for Finance, Asiru Idris if he fails to appear before the house next week.
The position of the lawmakers was sequel to a motion by the Chairman House Special Committee on Public Account, Hilarion Collins Musa on the need to compel the commissioner to appear before the house as he has constantly disregarded the call of the house adding that if he fails to appear, a warrant of arrest may be issued on him.
The Lawmaker disclosed that the Committee had on several occasions invited the Commissioner, but refused to appear before the Committee. In return, he invited the Committee to a meeting at the Revenue House and, thereon, the Committee made demands of specific evidences pursuant to its consideration of the Report by the State Auditor General on the Audited Accounts of the State which he did not respond.
“It is now over 6 months, the Commissioner neither replied nor availed the Committee with the evidences required for further consideration of the Report by the State Auditor General, I therefore, move that the Commissioner be compelled firstly by the Resolution of this House to appear before the Committee.”
“Failure to act accordingly, he would be compelled through the issuance of Warrant in line with Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended to appear accordingly”. Musa added.
In a unanimous support by the lawmakers, the commissioner’s decision not to honour the invitation of the committee is an affront to the house.
The speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole in his ruling said the house has the right in accordance with the law to invite anyone and as such the commissioner is not an exemption.
Kolawole however directed the clerk to communicate the commissioner to appear before the house in its next legislative sitting.
