Speaker steps down after scam

2007-10-30 21:07

Abuja - Nigeria's anti-graft war got a boost on Tuesday as the Speaker of the House of Representatives (lower house of parliament), Patricia Etteh, was forced to step down over a contract scam.

Out of a total of 322 members present in the House after, 290 voted she should step down, 30 wanted her to continue and two abstained from voting.

Etteh was forced to step down to allow the House to deliberate on the report of a panel that investigated and indicted her and her deputy, Babangida Nguruoje, over a $5.14m contract scam.

The panel had said that Etteh had not followed due process in the award of the contract to renovate her official residence and that of her deputy.

The House meanwhile appointed Tenrugu Tsegba of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) as its interim Speaker.

The announcement of Etteh's resignation came after protests by labour organisations and trade unions.

The acting president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ladie Iliya, was among the leaders of the protest.

"It's in the interest of Nigerians for President (Umaru) Yar'Adua to intervene and make sure Etteh goes," Iliya said. He added: "It is a shame that a woman of Etteh's calibre could be involved in the scandal."

The president of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Peter Esele, said Nigerians would no longer tolerate any illegal and fraudulent act.

"This is an opportunity for Nigerians to tell the political class that they will not take any impunity from them any longer. Etteh must go," he said. - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA