House Committee Threatens Arrest of REA MD Over Missed Hearing

The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has directed the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, REA, to appear in person before it next Tuesday, after failing to honour an earlier summon to attend its ongoing investigative hearing.

The committee said the managing director had earlier been summoned but did not attend the session, prompting members to warn that parliamentary oversight must not be trivialised.

Chairman Afam Ogene told the hearing in Abuja that compliance with invitations from the National Assembly was mandatory.

Lawmakers described the absence as disrespectful and threatened to seek a warrant of arrest through the Nigeria Police Force if the directive is not obeyed.

In response, the agency’s Executive Director for Corporate Services, Gboyega Ayoade, offered an apology and asked for more time, saying the absence was not intentional and should not be seen as an affront to the committee.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji