The House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation has suspended the investigation of the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Suleiman Abubakar, who was accused of participating in a governorship primary election without resigning his appointment.
The committee directed petitioners to provide substantial evidence to support their allegations.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Yusuf Galambi gave the directive at an investigative hearing in Abuja.
Mr. Galambi said that the committee could not proceed with the investigation due to insufficient documentary evidence presented by the petitioners.
The investigation followed a motion earlier adopted by the House on the need to uphold constitutional and administrative rules guiding the conduct of public officers and their participation in electoral processes.
The committee was mandated to investigate allegations centered on claims that the NILDS Director-General participated in a governorship primary election without resigning his appointment as required by law and civil service regulations.
The chairman advised the petitioners to provide documentary evidence, including records from the political party, nomination forms, and expression of interest forms allegedly linked to the Director-General.
“The committee is unable to proceed in the absence of credible and verifiable evidence to substantiate the allegations before us,” he said.
He said the committee would consider issuing another invitation to the NILDS boss after receiving the required evidence.
Mr. Galambi, however, maintained that the committee would proceed with the investigation regardless of the Director-General’s appearance, noting that a formal invitation had been duly extended to him and that his absence would not impede the panel’s work.
Earlier, a member of the committee, Mr. Harrison Anozie expressed concern over the failure of the Director-General to honour the committee’s invitation.
“In the matter referred to this committee, we have extended invitations to all parties, especially the DG, who has been alleged to have participated in a political process without resigning his appointment as required by the Constitution and the directive of Mr President,” Anozie said.
He noted that the Director-General was given adequate notice and sufficient time to appear before the committee.
“He ought to be here to state his own side of the story. A proper notice was served on him, and ample time was given for him to appear before this committee,” he said.
Mr. Anozie, however, maintained that the committee’s work should not be frustrated by the absence of any party.
Also speaking, Mr. Chinedu Obika asked the petitioners whether they possessed video evidence of the alleged participation of the Director-General in the primary election.
Responding on behalf of the petitioners, a member of Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioner(ALDRAP), Williams Amuga said their claims were based on reports and publications circulated on social media platforms.
The committee subsequently suspended the hearing and directed the petitioners to submit additional evidence before further proceedings on the matter.
