THE
House of Representatives, on Thursday, detailed its committees on Information
Communication Technology, Justice and Anti-corruption to investigate the
alleged award of over $40 million internet spying contract to a foreign company
to monitor computers and internet activities of over 45 millions Nigerians on the
web by the Federal Government.
To
this end, the House urged the Federal Government to suspend all action with
regards to the contract pending the outcome of its investigation, which would
be conducted within three weeks.
The
House resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance raised by
Honourable Ibrahim Gusau, entitled: “A motion for the need to investigate the
alleged over $40 million surveillance contract awarded by Federal Government to
a foreign firm.”
The
mover of the motion equally maintained that reports had it that the contract
was awarded secretly and in wanton disregard of due process, fiscal
responsibility act, and Bureau of Public Procurement Act 2007.
According
to him, “the award of the contract has violated the basic privacy provision in
Chapter 4, Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. The contract under
the guise of intelligence gathering and national security may not be the answer
to the glaring security challenges of today’s Nigeria.”
He
noted that if the alleged contract was allowed the right to private and family
life enshrined in the 1999 Constitution as amended would have been violated and
breached.
When
the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, who presided over the session
put the motion to vote, it was unanimously adopted by the House.
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