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Nigeria probes speaker for $5m
06/09/2007 09:42 - (SA)
Abuja - The Nigerian House of Representatives launched an investigation on Wednesday into accusations by some members that the speaker spent $5m on renovating two official residences and buying 12 cars.
The scandal surrounding Patricia Etteh's spending, which erupted last month while she was in the United States celebrating her birthday, had embarrassed the new government after it pledged zero tolerance for corruption.
Etteh said: "I won't pretend that I don't know what is going on. I mean, the contract scam. I know I am thoroughly involved."
She did not comment on allegations that she approved contracts worth $3.6m to renovate her house and that of her deputy and a further $1.4m for 12 cars, without following due process.
The members who had challenged her said the houses were two years old and had hardly been used when she ordered the works. The House resolved that a nine-member committee would investigate the matter. No deadline was given.
Common forms of corruption
Nigeria consistently ranked as one of the world's most corrupt countries in a list drawn up every year by independent watchdog, Transparency International. It was the eighth-biggest oil exporter in the world, but most people lived in poverty.
The practice by government officials of awarding inflated contracts and sharing the excess money with the contractors had been one of the most common forms of corruption for decades.
The scandal over Etteh's contracts, which had made front-page news in Nigeria for weeks, had split the ruling People's Democratic Party. Some members had pledged loyalty to her while others were calling for her impeachment.
The row came at a bad time for President Umaru Yar'Adua, who came to office on May 29 pledging to crack down on corruption and was under scrutiny over whether he would deliver.
Yar'Adua had cultivated an image of austerity and simple living in an effort to resist the culture of profligacy among Nigeria's rulers.
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