I can do without Nigeria: Otedola

The $3 million bribe scandal probe assumed a dramatic turn yesterday as Mr Femi Otedola appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges and he refused to speak in camera. The problem started when the panel asked the press to leave the hall. Mr Otedola objected to this action and insisted that the hearing must be done in the open, for Nigerians' to see what is going on.

The panel chairman, Hon Gambo Musa, "He told us that what was submitted to us was not genuine and we asked how he knew that the documents submitted to us were not genuine." Musa who was visibly angry, spoke further: "We asked him other questions but he refused to answer. We asked him to produce what he submitted to SSS and police but he refused again"He insulted us. He was just laughing. It was very stupid of him. I must say that. He came and told us that he is not hungry, that he can do without Nigeria. Are we hungry, he is full of himself." Musa said that his committee would continue with the investigation despite the cold shoulder from Otedola

Farouk Lawan was last week drilled by the same Committee, where he accepted collecting money from Otedola but claimed that the money was not a bribe. He also claimed to have earlier informed the Inspector General of Police about the bribe money.

The panel had on Monday threatened that it would order the arrest of Mr Otedola, if he fails to appear before them. The invitation was to grill him over his allegation that Lawan requested and collected $620,000 as part payment of a $3 million bribe to delete the name of his company from the list of oil firms that engaged in subsidy scam.

The investigative panel chaired by asked journalists out of the hall. Otedola insisted he would only speak about the controversial matter at a public hearing. But the committee said Otedola was stupid and had demonstrated arrogance during their interaction ."He is stupid, he insulted us. I don’t know what he thinks he is," the panel chairman said.

CHAIRMAN, Zenon Oil, Mr Femi Otedola is set to release 17 more audio tapes and six video tapes of what transpired between him and Farouk Lawan, the House of Representatives member in the $3 million bribery scandal.

Wingrass learnt from credible sources that Nigerians will get to hear and view all the tapes by the end of this week