Kawu while moving the motion under matters of urgent National Importance had prayed the House to investigate the matter through its committees of Defence and Aviation. He was however not allowed to debate the issue, nor was any other person allowed to contribute as the Deputy Speaker said it would be better to refer the matter to a committee.
This resulted in a big row and he eventually called for a vote in which majority members voted not to allow a debate. The rowdy session which held up proceedings for over ten minutes under the supervision of the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha occurred as allegations of bribery of lawmakers hit the House over the issue.
Members were alleged to have received from the Federal Government, $20, 000 dollars apiece while their Senate counterparts $50, 000 each to sweep the issue under the carpet. The APC caucus in a briefing after the walk-out described the $9. 3m smuggled cash as a shame to the country, adding that the country is now a laughing stock in the comity of nations.
Samson Osagie, Minority Whip who addressed the media in company of all APC members spoke on the issue. his said:
“For us as a people and for us as lawmakers, we find this unacceptable, unethical, illegitimate and in our view, it is an illegal transaction. Nigerian government owes the Nigerian people an explanation as to what that source of money comes from and the purpose for which it was made.
“If the indeed, the matter involves security issues like the purchase of arms by foreign government like Nigeria, why was the South African government not brought into the picture before hand and how could South African government be sure that the arms were purchased legitimately by the Nigerian government and not by the insurgents when there were no officials of the NSA’s office or the Director of state security department that accompany such money?”
Source: The Nation
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