The Chairman of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited, Femi Otedola, today honoured the invitation of the House of Representatives Ethics and Privileges Committee probing his alleged $620,000 bribe to the suspended Chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Farouk Lawan which probed the management of the fuel subsidy fund.
On his arrival, the committee went into a closed door session, but Otedola requested that the hearing should be conducted in public.
“I strongly believe that the interest of the public will not be best served if this investigation is held in-camera,” he said.
The committee had invited the billionaire businessman to explain allegations that he gave $620,000 bribe to Mr Lawan, and the erstwhile secretary, Boniface Emenalo, to get his companies off the list of firms indicted for the alleged mismanagement of oil subsidy funds.
In his speech before the committee, Mr. Otedola speech said:
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Honorable Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Honorable Members,
This is a matter that has generated a lot of public interest and controversy.
The House of Representatives Committee on the Management of Fuel Subsidy headed by Hon. Farouk Lawan held all its sittings in public.
When this issue arose, the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges publicly stated that its investigations will be held in public.
It is therefore surprising and curious that this committee has made a U-turn to hold its investigative sittings in-camera particularly in the light of unfolding events.
I strongly believe that the interest of the public will not be best served if this investigation is held in-camera.
I have nothing to hide and will only speak on this issue when the press and interested Nigerians are allowed to be present at the sittings of this committee.
