#Attention please!!! "Our attention has been drawn to a story published today May 23, 2017 in some dailies with a screaming headline 'Sports minister, Dalung risks arrest over alleged N182m bribe' The story stated that 'Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions have threatened to get Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung arrested over an alleged N30million bribery scam.' It alleged that Dalung refused to appear before the committee after seven invitations were communicated to him. The publication stated that the committee chaired by Rep Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, PDP, Abia also summoned the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Director of Procurement to appear alongside the minister to explain their roles over alleged bribery scam involving a contractor. The contract was said to have been transacted between 27 November 2013 and October 2015 by the then Ministry of Youth Development (Now Federal Minstry of Youth and Sports) for the construction of a youth development centre at Ojongbodu, Oyo state. I, SOLOMON SELCAP DALUNG DO HEREBY DECLARE THAT; I have never been invited by the said NASS committee and never received any invitation from the Committee in respect of the allegations published. The contract was said to have been transacted between 27th November 2013 and October 2015 by the then Ministry of Youth Development, I took an oath of office in November 2015. I am not even aware of the said transactions as I don’t even know the involved or even the company. I did not mandate anybody to collect anything from anybody and so, not in the position to defend it. The whole allegation is coming to me as a surprise because before proceeding on medical vacation, I cannot remember receiving such petition. I therefore challenge those fabricating the story to also tell Nigerians whether I was given a copy of the petition? If the petitioner did not avail me the copy, I have the right to be served with a copy before the purported seven invitations by NASS. Or was NASS expecting me to appear before they will level the allegations and expect a reply? There are laid down procedures of doing things and I believe that NASS is conversant with these practises common in democratic societies. As a law abiding citizen, I will never disregard invitation from NASS. If I have genuine reasons for not making it, I will communicate formally. The whole process looks like acting a script which is outside the confines of the law. The power of arrest of NASS is a shield intended to protect the integrity of the legislature and not a sword to hunt perceived or imaginary enemies. The threat is too hash and lacks the flavour of legislative complements because choosing a period of my absence on medical vacation is the worst form of injustice against humanity. However, whenever, I resume from my medical vacation, I will report to the Inspector of Police or Sergeant at Arms for journey into detention, but for now, I am responding to my health." SOLOMON SELCAP DALUNG

SolomonDalung just now Via Flipboard