A civil society organization, known as Coalition for Good Governance (CGG) has kicked against what it termed diversionary persecution of the Director –General, National Emergency Management Agency Engr. Mustapha Maihaja.



The group decried what it described as the endless, sordid and diversionary persecution of the agency boss by the House of Representatives’ Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, through a proxy, the ad hoc House Committee chaired by Hon. Ali Isa.



CCG alleged that the investigation was designed and cleverly crafted as persecution of the NEMA boss, Engr. Maihaja by the leadership of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Dogara.



Recall that months back, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had uncovered sublime acts of corruption in the management of funds accruing to NEMA by the immediate past leadership of the agency, led by Mr. Sani Sidi Mohammed.



At least, the EFCC fingered the former NEMA DG and of six his directors, who allegedly connived to dubiously siphon NEMA’s funds to the whooping sum of N2.5 billion.



Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, the Executive Director of CCG, Mrs. Jaiyeole Mohammed, said the conduct of the Hon. Isa led House Committee is partial, vindictive, dishonest, selective and malicious.



His statement reads below.



" The House committee conveniently ignored the subsisting case of fraud, which the EFCC had tentatively established against the former NEMA DG and the directors. It has devoted all its energy and wisdom in probing the tenure of Engr. Maihaja, while the indicted, suspended, but reinstated directors by the order of the House of Reps are still in custody of files containing critical documents that would aid EFCC investigation into the fraud.



"The twist is why would the House of Representatives take over a case being handled by the EFCC, the agency lawfully vested with the powers to prosecute persons involved in financial crimes? Equally disturbing is why the House committee has overlooked or abandoned a glaring case to concentrate its probe on the vague case against the NEMA boss? what is the motivation that has informed this suspect decision?



"Therefore, we feel it is nothing rather than to execute its vindictive mission against President Muhammedu Buhari, by nailing his appointees. So, in the pursuit of this agenda, the House Committee has cooked up frivolous allegations against the current NEMA boss, Engr. Maihaja, claiming he abused due process in some contracts awarded by the agency, running into billions of naira.



"The probe by the House Committee on the NEMA boss has continued, but unfortunately, it has found nothing concrete or incriminating to nail the current NEMA boss. But overtly and in the suspected plot of vendetta against President Buhari and his appointees, orchestrated by Speaker Dogara, the House committee probe has continued to bark meaninglessly.



" We wish to draw the attention of the public to the fact that House of Representatives led by Speaker Dogara is pursuing a personal and narrow interest in the guise of the probe of the present NEMA boss. It has not marketed itself as pursuing public interest. It is baffling why the House committee has not found it expedient or even necessary to invite the former NEMA DG and the directors fingered in the alleged fraud for interrogation, but it is becoming incensed over the probe of Engr. Maihaja.



"The Hon. Isa led House committee has also ignored petitions by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) drawing its attention to the pending alleged fraud case against the former NEMA DG and the directors. This is extremely malicious and partial.



"Unfortunately though, the House Committee has turned unbearable heat and pressure on the current NEMA DG, Engr. Maihaja to the extent of threatening to arrest the DG, who on two occasions, could not honour the committee’s invitations, because of pressing official engagements, but deemed it necessary to send representatives while he was on official visit to Benue and other states.



"The NEMA DG had to accompany Vice President Osinbajo to Benue State in government efforts to tackle the monumental humanitarian problems in the state precipitated by the herders/farmers crisis. Strangely, this matter of grave public concern did not attract the understanding or sympathy of the House committee, because it is primed to deliver instant results on the destructive mission.



"We make bold to say, the conduct of the Hon. Isa led House Committee is partial, vindictive, dishonest, selective and malicious. We need no soothsayer to know that we are in very serious trouble as far as these self-seeking and egocentric leaders of the House are concerned.



" Flowing from this standpoint, we therefore reject in totality any invitation of NEMA’s DG by the House Committee or any appointee of the Buhari administration, until it advertises itself as ready to invite and interrogate those really culpable in the NEMA fraud scandal.



"The reputational crisis these selfish characters in the House of Representatives intend to create and nurture to tarnish the image of the Buhari Presidency would no longer be tolerated or accepted by the coalition. The blackmail and persecution of Buhari’s appointees in order to rubbish or stain the integrity of the President must stop now."

source>>https://www.tabloidnig.com/2018/05/group-cries-out-over-diversionary.html