Africa-Press – Nigeria. Bayelsa West Senator Seriake Dickson has stated the reason he could not be part of a panel investigating former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva.
In a statement on his Facebook page, Dickson said he recused himself when he found out that the Senate Committee on Local Content had summoned an investigative hearing into allegations of diversion of $14.8 million by Timipre Sylva.
“When I discovered that the hearing was specifically summoned for that purpose, I raised objections — firstly, on the ground that there should be no selective inquiry; that the entirety of the management of the fund, perhaps from inception, should be investigated, if at all, and not just one transaction.
“While the committee has the powers to decide what to investigate, I feel that this approach is too selective, especially bearing in mind that it is public knowledge that the EFCC has already taken steps — meaning they have investigated and reached a certain level.
“I thought the Committee need not investigate that particular transaction, even though it has the powers to do so,” he said.
The lawmaker equally drew attention to their political difference, stressing that he cannot be seen to be attacking an opponent.
“I recused myself because the person affected is a former governor of my state — my predecessor in office, and I have a policy of not joining to fight or pull down anyone.
“I am not like other politicians from my area or the typical politicians in Nigeria who celebrate the downfall of opponents and people they disagree with.
“The person concerned and I have been on different ends, leading different tendencies in various political battles in my state since 2011 till date.
“While we do not meet or speak or pursue any common political agenda, and we have not been in the same party since 2011, I do not practise politics that involves pulling people down or contributing to their problems,” he added.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, declared Sylva wanted on November 10 over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.8 million, belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB.
EFCC called on members of the public to support law enforcement efforts by providing credible information that could lead to Sylva’s arrest.
Sylva was also his predecessor as governor of Bayelsa State.
For More News And Analysis About Nigeria Follow Africa-Press
