Gov. Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State says those indicted by the House of Representatives’ report on fuel? subsidy should be given fair hearing to ascertain their level of involvement in the alleged scam.
Yuguda stated this while fielding questions from State House Correspondents in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the entire report should be subjected to cross-examination to ascertain the facts contained in it.
‘’This is necessary because the report is yet to be put to test. ’’
The governor, therefore, urged Nigerians to be fair to those implicated in the report, saying that the indicted persons should be allowed to defend themselves in the court of law.
“Well, the House of Representatives report is an investigation that was carried out and there were lots of discoveries that were made and that report is yet to be put to test. Is as if you make allegations and these allegations will be put to series of cross examinations to ascertain the facts about the report.
“So, we take this one as a report for now until the facts have been unearthed. For us to swallow everything hook line and sinker, will not be fair to those who are being accused. So there should be fair hearing, both sides must be heard because they have their own information, those who have been operatives on the ground have their own information, and that if you recall I was the chairman of the committee that first unearth this issue of? fraud on fuel subsidy.
“So I think that it doesn't mean that we would conclude that there is no transparency in the way and manner government does business. ’’
On transparency in governance at the state levels, Yuguda said that most of the state governments had enacted the procurement and fiscal responsibility laws as part of measures to promote transparency and financial discipline.
He said that the state governments would continue to partner with the Federal Government in promoting transparency in governance. (NAN)