The House of Representatives has set up an ad-hoc committee to probe all issues surrounding allegations that United States Congressman Scott Perry is involved in money laundering and embezzlement.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas announced the names of the panel members before the end of plenary on Wednesday and expressed his confidence that those appointed would conduct a thorough investigation for the benefit of all Nigerians. The committee’s mandate includes a comprehensive inquiry into the activities of non-governmental organizations, their true identities, funding sources, and how they expend their funds.
VerilyNews recalls that Congressman Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, made these allegations during the inaugural hearing of the sub-committee on Delivering on Government Efficiency last Thursday. That session, titled “The War on Waste: Stamping Out the Scourge of Improper Payments and Fraud,” focused on alleged misappropriations of taxpayer funds.
In response, Hon. Inuwa Garba, a lawmaker representing the Yamaltu-Deba Federal Constituency of Gombe State, raised a motion of urgent public importance during plenary, emphasizing that such serious allegations must be promptly and thoroughly investigated given their weight and magnitude.
Earlier, the House had directed its Committees on National Security, Intelligence, Defence, Foreign Affairs, and Inter-Governmental Affairs to examine the activities of non-government organizations operating in Nigeria. The newly formed panel is tasked with investigating the real identities of these NGOs, their sources of funding, and how they utilize their resources.
Amid these developments, scores of Nigerians have voiced deep concerns over the activities of NGOs operating in the remote corners of Northern Nigeria—areas where the military is often reluctant to operate. Lawmakers noted that if the allegations prove true, they would raise serious national and international security issues and question the extent of external influences on Nigeria’s ongoing struggle against insecurity, which has already resulted in significant loss of lives, property destruction, and the displacement of over one million citizens over the years.
In his briefing to correspondents, Hon. Garba stressed that if these heavy allegations are not thoroughly investigated, it could undermine Nigeria’s sovereignty, compromise national security efforts, and erode public confidence in the country’s fight against terrorism. He further warned that failing to uncover the truth behind such allegations might embolden criminal and terrorist elements by disrupting efforts to address the security challenges facing Nigeria.
