Reps Threaten To Subpoena Banks’ CEOs Over Negligence
The House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating non-remittance to the National Housing Fund, NHF, and utilization of funds from 2011 to date, has threatened to subpoena the Chief Executives Officers of banks who failed to honor its invitation.
The Chairman of the Adhoc committee, Mr Dachung Bagos, who disclosed this to newsmen expressed displeasure with the attitude of CEOs who always pretend to travel out of the country whenever they are invited to give evidence to the parliament.
He warned that in as much as the committee would want to give fair hearing to every stakeholder, it will not hesitate to invoke the provisions of the law against anyone that attempts to undermine its authority or sabotage the investigation.
“We will not tolerate a situation whereby CEOs shy away from coming up to give evidence. Each time all the CEOs claim they have travelled abroad,” he noted.
“We insist on having the Accountant General of the Federation and the acting governor of the CBN appear before this Honorable committee unfailingly next Thursday at 11am. We are not going to entertain their representatives,” Bagos stated.
The Director, Banking Supervision, Mr. Haruna Mustapha who represented the CBN governor was asked to go back.
The committee did not take evidence from the Director of IPPIS, Mr. Emma Deko who represented the AGF insisting that she must appear in person.
Bagos said “Today, we invited all the banks but only UBA, Zenith, Heritage and Sterling Bank. We’ll not take it lightly with the absence of bank’s representatives any longer.”
The committee directed the defaulting banks to appear with all required information by Thursday next week.
It also summoned the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein and the acting governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Folashidun Shonubi to appear in person