The Nigerian Senate has issued a warrant of arrest against the management of construction company, Julius Berger, for snubbing its invitation on several occasions.
The Senate’s resolution, yesterday, followed a motion raised by Senator Osita Ngwu, representing Enugu West, expressing concern over Julius Berger’s repeated failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Works.
The lawmaker noted that Julius Berger had many failed contracts littered all over the country, stressing that there was need to investigate the development.
However, according to him, the company was taking the Senate for granted.
Making reference to the power of Senate to summon anyone before its investigative committee, Ngwu said: “If a committee summons any person or entity to come for a committee hearing and that entity does not send a representative or do not appear in any way, the normal thing is to report to the presiding officer and then warrants will be issued.”
The lawmaker urged the Senate President to compel Julius Berger to appear for investigation.
His position was supported by Senator Abdul Ningi representing Bauchi Central, who pointed out that the Senate President was empowered by the Constitution and the Senate Rules to order the appearance of anyone through a warrant of arrest. “The committees, of course, derive their powers on the same standard rules.
“The Constitution gives the National Assembly such powers. There is no way in Order Paper, not in the powers and privileges of the National Assembly, because a committee chairman is saddled with the capacity to compel.
“It is the presiding officer that compels, and therefore, when a matter of this nature is brought before a house, the committee now seeks the mandate of the entire Senate.”
Though Senator Adams Oshiomhole differed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio in his remarks cited other relevant sections of the Constitution and that of the Senate to affirm a warrant of arrest on the management of Julius Berger to appear before the Senate.
