[size=14pt]C’ River Assembly issues warrant of arrest for commissioner[/size]
By Mudiaga Affe, Calabar
Wednesday, 5 Oct 2011


The Cross River State House of Assembly on Tuesday issued a warrant of arrest for the state Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Bassey Oqua, for failing to appear before it to defend the budget of his ministry.


All the commissioners and special advisers were invited by the Assembly to defend their budgets, but Oqua allegedly refused to honour his invite.


He also ignored the resolution taken on September 29 summoning him to appear on October 4.


The Deputy Speaker, Mr. Itaya Nyong, in a motion moved that the commissioner, having allegedly shown disrespect for the House should be arrested. The state Commissioner of Police was directed to bring him to the floor of the House on Thursday.


The motion seconded by the Deputy Leader, Mr. Patrick Uguge, representing Ogoja State Constituency, was supported by all the members of the House.


The Speaker of the House, Mr. Larry Odey, after listening to the contributions of members, who roundly condemned what they described as an act of contempt by the commissioner, said the House could not tolerate indiscipline.


Odey said, “Our disappointment is that the gentleman in question has failed to provide leadership. His refusal to appear before the Appropriation Committee amounts to an abuse of due process. What he has done requires nothing less than extreme measure of passing a vote of no confidence.”


The Minority Leader and only Action Congress of Nigeria member in the House, Mr. Alex Irek, representing Obubra 1 State Constituency, said Oqua had been a problem to the House. He added, “He has put himself on the table and the hammer should be brought down on him.”


The lawmakers wondered why the commissioner acted like he was above the law, even though Governor Liyel Imoke had never failed to honour an invite to appear before the House when needed.


Efforts made by our correspondent to speak with the commissioner were unsuccessful as his mobile telephone indicated that it was switched off.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201110053101295