*Scandal rocks NASC & NASS over falsification of records by Clerk Senate & 2 Secretaries-NGO writes National Assembly, Demands immediate Suspension of the Senior Officers Over Falsification of records, Forgery*

Section 03216(a)(iii) of the Conditions of Service in the National Assembly Service (July,2020 edition) states that " AN OFFICER SHALL BE SUSPENDED BY THE COMMISSION FROM THE EXERCISE OF THE POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HIS OFFICE AND FROM ENJOYMENT OF HIS SALARY WHERE:
(iii) THE OFFICER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENCE (other than a minor traffic offence and the like). SUSPENSION IN THIS INSTANCE SHALL BE FROM THE DATE THE OFFICER IS CHARGED IN COURT".

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Innovation for Empowerment and Sustainable Peace Initiative (IESP Initiative) has written the National Assembly Service Commission and the Clerk to National Assembly demanding immediate invocation of the law and suspension of three of its senior officers involved in falsification of records, latent illegality, abuse of power and forgery.

In a petition dated November 16, 2021, which was leaked to the press, counsel to the IESP Initiative, Masalaha Law and Associates berated the legislative arm of government for failing to apply the right procedure in dismissing the officers.

The affected officers are Okpara Michael Nnaechi (born in 1962 &1965), Dauda Ibrahim El-Ladan (born in 1961,1962 &1963) and Adebanjo Ademola Anthony(born in 1962 &1963).

The NGO argued that if the National Assembly could fold its arms and fails to send the accused individuals who falsified and forged their records to where they belong, it is a dent to the anti-corruption campaign of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

The letter reads: "That a further report was written by the National Assembly to the
Copy of the same report as requested by the Nigeria Police dated November 22, 2020 issuing a "Certified True Copy".

"That having received the CTC as mentioned above, the State
Intelligence Bureau (SIB) of the Nigeria Police wrote another letter requesting the release of the above named persons (Staff), dated the 27th November, 2020, acknowledged received by the office of the Clerk to the National Assembly on the 2nd December, 2020,

"That however, to the surprise and consternation of our Client, the entire staff of the National Assembly and the world at large, nothing was ever heard of this matter again,a situation which has emboldened the above named persons (Staff) and which may unquestionably set a bad precedent for all and sundry.

"We hereby state categorically that it is both illegal and
unconstitutional to falsify record and or commit forgery by not just any Public officer but more so in the highest law making body of the society...if allowed unchecked, this will further entrench the rumours that NIGERIA IS FAST BECOMING THE CAPITAL OF CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD".

"That Our Client was bewildered and justifiably miffed even in the face of the above indictment against the above named persons (Staff), they are now individually BOASTING OF HOW THEY BRIBED THEIR WAY INTO SITTING ON AN INDICTMENT OF THIS PROPORTION."

The Innovation for Empowerment and Sustainable Peace Initiative (IESP Initiative) stated further that it being a concerned party now lives in justifiable awe of further watching the disintegration of the country's moral and principles.

It urged the Chairman, National Assembly Service Commission and the Clerk to the National Assembly to immediately comply with its own conditions of Service in the National Assembly (Section 03216(a)(iii) rather than covering any form of misconduct and illegality, as it has become a subject of public consumption and the whole world are watching the embarrassing scenario.

Finally, failure on the part of the Chairman of the Commission and the Clerk to National Assembly to act is a confirmation of a sold conscience. If their conscience is mortgaged, the nation can still boast of few people with impeccable characters & integrity. For he who murdered sleep, can never get peace.

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Federal character well represented.