Tunji Wusu –
On Thursday, the House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating employment racketeering in Federal Government agencies decided to issue an arrest warrant for Mr. Haruna Kolo, an employee of the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), for repeatedly failing to show up when invited.
Kolo, a former employee of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), testified before the Committee on Monday in response to claims that he had sold job openings in cooperation with the Commission’s chairman, Muheeba Dankaka.
Recall that Kolo acknowledged to soliciting payment for work done on behalf of the FCC Chairman during his Monday testimony.
He stated that the FCC Chairman should be held accountable if anything were to happen to him and voiced concern for his safety.
He has, however, disregarded the Committee’s request that he show up for the ensuing sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Despite invitations, AMCON did not attend the investigation.
The Committee’s Chairman, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, announced that Kolo would receive an arrest warrant when the hearing got underway again on Thursday.
Kolo will be dragged in by the security authorities if he does not appear for the investigation, the man claimed.
The committee chairman also expressed displeasure with the government bodies for dodging the inquiry.
Any agency that disregards the committee’s invitation would now face consequences, he declared.
In order to ensure that these agencies have a legitimate reason to testify before this committee, he declared, “We have made our position very clear and we have resolved to further communicate through newspaper communications today and tomorrow. And starting tomorrow, we’ll make clear our position in a number of newspapers and broadcast outlets, giving agencies one more reminder that they must appear before this committee every single Monday from Monday through Friday. In addition to this hearing, all of our witnesses who we equally requested to be present will come before us on Monday and Tuesday.
“We invited Haruna Kolo and a few other individuals to be here yesterday. Do they exist? Not at all. By the extraordinary grace of God, I believe agencies will start to see this committee’s other side as of Monday. If they claim that letters from this committee have not reached them, we will rewrite, publish in newspapers, and make televised broadcasts to determine if they do not watch television or read newspapers. We should act accordingly and extend a benefit of the doubt to them.
As expected representatives from government agencies did not appear, the meeting was suddenly adjourned.
The committee meeting was postponed to August 14th, 2023, on Monday.
