…says Committee Acting Within Constitutional Powers
Staff of Ministries, Departments and Agencies in Abia State have accused the House of Assembly Special Committee on the Implementation of the 2026 Budget of intimidation, corrupt practices, and abuse of office.
The staff, who spoke anonymously after appearing before the committee, alleged that the panel chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Mmerigini, had strayed from its mandate and was demanding gratifications from agencies. They also claimed the committee requested details of monthly allocations from some MDAs and described the conduct as “unparliamentary.”
They further alleged that during one of the sittings, the member representing Ikwuano State Constituency, Hon. Boniface Isienyi, remarked that MDAs neither recognize nor send gratifications to members of the Assembly.
The staff called on Governor Dr. Alex Otti to intervene.
Reacting to the allegations, the Deputy Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Meregini, dismissed the claims and described them as false, saying the committee was only carrying out its constitutional duties.
“For the record, we have a 23-member special review committee headed by myself. The only person not on the committee is the Rt. Hon. Speaker. Every other House member is included,” Hon. Mmerigini said.
“I am not surprised by the allegations because it is election time and I am running. But I want to place it on record, there is no issue of intimidation and there can never be extortion where I am involved.”
On the claim of demanding “one month allocation,” he said: “How can a ministry or agency give you one month allocation? Is it impress, running cost, or money for infrastructure? It doesn’t hold any water.”
The Deputy Speaker explained that the committee was insisting that heads of MDAs appear in person with income and expenditure profiles, statements of account, and relevant vouchers because this is the final review before the last budget presentation of the administration.
“Insisting that every MDA should come in person is not intimidation. It is within the purview of the law. Sections 128 to 130 of the 1999 Constitution as amended back our oversight functions,” he said.
Hon. Meregini added that the House has shown understanding with MDAs whose heads are unavoidably absent and recalled that Governor Otti had warned in 2023 against asking nominees for gratification.
“I make bold to say, do your independent verification. Nobody does that and nobody can do that under my watch,” he said.
He disclosed that the committee would present a report at the end of the exercise.
MDAs Accuse Abia Assembly Budget Committee of Extortion as Deputy Speaker Denies Allegations
