Monumental Fraud: NASS to issue arrest warrant on NEMA Boss Maihaja

The National Assembly House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness has threatened to issue arrest warrant on the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustafha Maihaja for evading investigative hearing.

The committee is investigating alleged breach of trust by NEMA under the supervision of Mustafha Maihaja.

The Chairman of the committee, Hon Ali Isa insisted that Maihaja must appear at its next sitting or face a warrant of arrest.

Hon. Isa pointed out that Maihaja had for third consecutive time failed to attend the hearing despite repeated invitations from the committee.

Hon Ali said the agency hasld a penchant for sending notice of its NEMA boss’ absence from the meeting either 30 minutes before the hearing commences or when the hearing has already commenced.

He added that the panel will give him one more chance to appear on the 31st of May, 2018, or face sanctions.

The Committee also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the ministry of Finance and other relevant parties to furnish the committee with all transaction details of N5. 6 billion funds released to four companies in relation to the Emergency Food Programme in the North East.

According to the committee, the documents are to guide the panel to uncover the mystery surrounding the release of funds and to establish whether it was given to the companies as a loan or under whatever condition.

The decision to ask for the documents arose when beneficiaries of the contract to mop up grains, which were said to have been distributed in the North East, and the accountant general of the federation said they were selected for the job without asking for a loan to finance it from the CBN, while the Central Bank, on the other hand, insisted that the N5.6 billion was a loan.

By PRNigeria