. Chairman digging into issues beyond his mandates – Aggrieved member

• I won’t stop probe, we must renegotiate dangerous clauses, says Ossai

• No law permits China to seize govt institutions, declares Bolaji Akinyemi

Our Correspondents 

The House of Representatives Committee on Treaties, Protocols and Agreements has invited the Ministry of Justice to shed light on the sovereignty clause in Nigeria’s loan agreement with China.

The Chairman of the committee, Nicholas Ossai, disclosed this on Tuesday at the sitting of the panel, which is investigating external loans and commercial agreements signed by Nigeria.

Also on Tuesday, there were indications that the committee members were divided as some of the lawmakers faulted the approach of the chairman.

It was gathered that some members felt that the chairman was going to an area that did not concern the panel.

The PUNCH learnt that such lawmakers included members of the Peoples Democratic Party, who feared that the manner the probe was being conducted would expose deficiencies in loans the PDP governments took when the party was in power between 1999 and 2015.

Ossai digging into issues beyond his mandates – Aggrieved lawmaker

An aggrieved member, who spoke to one  of our correspondents on condition of anonymity after the committee sitting, said Ossai was digging into issues beyond his mandates.

The lawmaker said, “Was he asked to oversight transport/works/ICT committees? The referral is about contents of agreements. If they are inimical to our wellbeing and our overall sovereign interest, the proper person to invite is the AGF (the Attorney General of the Federation (Abubakar Malami, SAN). He did not call him.

“All the directors of legal services of all the ministries, departments and agencies are (members of) staff of the Attorney General of the Federation office. Why didn’t he (Ossai) call the AGF?

“When Mr President sent a  request for loan approval, it was referred to the Committee on Loans Aids and Debt (Management). The committee brought its report, including the agreements and terms. It was discussed and approved by the Committee of the Whole. So, is Ossai now investigating the decision of the entire House and by extension the National Assembly too? Even most of the loans were taken by the PDP.”

I won’t stop probe, we must renegotiate dangerous clauses – Ossai

But speaking to one of  our correspondents after the committee’s short sitting on Tuesday, Ossai vowed to continue with the probe and conclude it.

Ossai said, “On Tuesday (next week), we are meeting. I will not soft- pedal on this issue. I’m going all out. To me, I feel Nigerians should be protected. Those clauses, we must make sure today they are renegotiated. We cannot say because you want to take loans, you will hold Nigerians by their jugular.

“Even when we approve loans, the second arm of the passage is a prayer that they will bring the details of those agreements to the National Assembly, which they have never brought.”

The chairman had on Monday described the sovereignty clause in the Chinese  loan as dangerous.

At Monday’s sitting, a member, Oluwole Oke, disagreed with Ossai.

The Federal Government had on Monday confirmed the controversial clause relating to the sovereignty of Nigeria.

According to both the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Ministry of Transportation, the clause is a global standard in bilateral agreements.

The committee, at its sitting on Tuesday, suspended its investigative hearing till Tuesday.

Ossai, who led members of the panel into the venue about one hour behind schedule, called for the adjournment after the opening prayers.