No warrant of arrest for Odimegwu – Population commission

National Population Commission has described as untrue the warrant of arrest issued for its chairman, Chief Festus Odimegwu, by the House of Representatives Committee on Federal Character.

The report, the NPC, in a statement on Sunday by its Chairperson, Public Affairs Committee, Mrs. Seyi Aderinokun-Olusanya, said was an attempt to blackmail the commission.

The House committee was said to have issued the arrest warrant following the refusal of Odimegwu to honour its summons and for violating the federal character principles in its current recruitment exercise.

Aderinokun-Olusanya said, “Records available to the commission showed that no warrant of arrest has been duly issued on the Chairman of the NPC by the House of Representatives. The media report on the warrant of arrest was a calculated attempt to blackmail the commission.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Chairman and the entire members of the commission hold the House of Representatives and its standing committees in very high esteem. The commission considers their oversight functions as vital to the promotion of good governance and effective implementation of government programmes.

“Indeed, the interventions of these committees in the activities of the commission have made a positive impact on the successful execution of our responsibilities and made our burden lighter.”

According to her, by virtue of the composition of its board and the nature of its operations, the NPC cannot but operate in strict compliance with the federal character principles, adding that the 1999 Constitution stipulates that every state must be represented on its board.

Aderinokun-Olusanya said, “The board is composed of a chairman and 37 federal commissioners representing the 36 states and the FCT. There is no way any of these commissioners will allow his/her state to be shortchanged by another.

“The NPC also maintains offices in all the states of the federation and local government councils. These realities have consistently ensured that the nominal roll of the commission reflects the federal character principle.”