The Abia State House of Assembly Ad Hoc Committee on 22BN Paris Refund to Abia State says the Committee is not a court of law with powers to to commit any individual to Jail.
The Chairman of the Adhoc Committee who is also the Chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Public Petitions Hon. Barr Emeka Okoroafor said the media insinuations and reports was a total deviation from the mandate and powers of the adhoc Committee.
“Our committee wish to clear the controversy generated in the media over threat to jail individuals including Abia SSG and ex commissioners over failure to honour invitations extended to them”
Hon. Okoroafor said while the adhoc Committee frowned at the refusal of the invitees to Honour the Committee’s invitation, it however does not have the powers to send anybody to Jail.
“We wish to state unequivocally that while the committee frowns at refusal to honour invitations without justification ,we know of possibilities of justification to be absent on dates of invitation”
He said that the Committee is worried over the refusal of some persons to Honour the invitation extended to them by the adhoc Committee.
“While the committee complained over the persistent refusal of said persons to honour the invitations to assist the committee in its fact finding assignment without reasons or justification to be absent”
He urged the general public to discard the media controversy as he said his Committee was sure that those invited will honor them.
“the committee while optimistic that those invited will do the needful in compliance with constitutional provisions , honour the invitation,we also caution that where the persistent refusal continues without justification ,the committee will be left no other choice but to invoke the constitution in recommendation to the Hon Speaker to issue warrant of arrest where the circumstance is deserving” he Concluded.
