Senator Seriake Dickson, who represents Bayelsa West, has given reasons for withdrawing from a probe by the Senate Committee on Local Content involving former minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva.
Mr Sylva, who also preceded Senator Dickson as governor of Bayelsa State, is facing allegations of diversion of $14.8 million belonging to the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
Dickson said in a statement on Facebook on Friday that he stepped aside after realising that the committee had summoned an investigative hearing centred on the allegation against Sylva.
According to him, he had attended the meeting believing it was a general interactive session with the executive secretary of the board and his team.
“When I discovered that the hearing was specifically summoned for that purpose, I raised objections – firstly, on the ground that there should be no selective inquiry; that the entirety of the management of the fund, perhaps from inception, should be investigated, if at all, and not just one transaction,” he said.
He said he objected to the hearing when he discovered its specific focus, stressing that any probe should cover the entire management of the fund.
He said he told the committee that an inquiry limited to one transaction was selective, noting that the EFCC had already taken steps on the matter.
“While the committee has the powers to decide what to investigate, I feel that this approach is too selective, especially bearing in mind that it is public knowledge that the EFCC has already taken steps – meaning they have investigated and reached a certain level. I thought the committee need not investigate that particular transaction, even though it has the powers to do so.”
Dickson said he recused himself because of his long-standing political differences with Sylva, adding that he does not take part in actions that could be interpreted as an attempt to pull down a political opponent.
“I recused myself because the person affected is a former governor of my state – my predecessor in office, and I have a policy of not joining to fight or pull down anyone.
“I am not like other politicians from my area or the typical politicians in Nigeria who celebrate the downfall of opponents and people they disagree with.”
He said their political paths have been different since 2011 and that although they do not meet or work together, he does not engage in politics aimed at harming others.
He explained that he restricts political contests to election campaigns and legal processes and does not join efforts that could worsen the situation of political rivals.
Seriake Dickson added that he has always supported those from Bayelsa who serve at the federal level, regardless of political differences and has maintained a personal policy of avoiding actions that may destroy others.
He said people from his political circle have acted differently towards him, but noted that their efforts to undermine him have not succeeded.
The EFCC declared Sylva wanted on November 10 over an alleged case of conspiracy and dishonest conversion of $14.8 million belonging to the NCDMB.
The agency also urged the public to assist with information that could aid his arrest.
Reacting, Timipre Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, described the EFCC’s action as a political move.
He said the allegation appeared to have evolved from earlier claims targeted at Sylva.
The Ijaw Youth Council also expressed concerns over the declaration.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Content, Joel Thomas, said the committee has accepted Dickson’s decision to step aside.
He said it was not unusual for the committee to seek information on matters affecting a board under its oversight.
