Probe: Reps C’ttee Gives CBN, NIRSAL, Banks, NBS Others One Week To Appear Unfailingly

By Alkassim Bala Tsakuwa, Abuja

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating Agricultural Subsidies, Intervention Funds, Aids and Grants Programmes from 2015 to 2025 has directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NIRSAL Microfinance Bank, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to appear unfailingly before it in one week or face Consequences.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Aminu Jamo gave the directive at the investigative hearing held by the committee at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday, following the repeated failure of the institutions to honour its multiple invitations.

He warned that continued failure to comply with the directive, the House will invoke relevant constitutional provisions to compel them to appear.

He expressed the committee’s displeasure over what it described as the persistent disregard for parliamentary invitations by key government agencies and financial institutions.

Hon. Jamo said, “It is disheartening that despite repeated invitations from the House of Representatives to government agencies, including agencies linked to the United Nations system, some have refused to appear or have outrightly ignored this investigative process.

“On this premise, I am constrained to move a motion to compel NIRSAL MFB, the Central Bank of Nigeria, SunTrust Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and the National Bureau of Statistics to appear before this committee”.

The Committee was set up following a House resolution on July 23, 2025 to probe the billions of Naira expended through various agricultural intervention programmes implemented by the Federal Government and the CBN between 2015 and September 2025.

It was mandated to investigate major intervention schemes which include; the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP); the Agribusiness/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS); the Accelerated Agricultural Development Scheme (AADS); the Nigerian Electricity Stabilisation Fund (NESF), and other intervention windows.

The Committee lamented the absence of key institutions and faulted the submissions made by the Representatives of Jaiz Bank, Unity Bank, Sterling Bank and Access Bank who failed to provide comprehensive documentation as required.

The Committee therefore resolved and directed that the appropriate heads of all concerned institutions must personally appear before it and gave the affected banks one week to submit detailed documentation strictly in line with the committee’s guidelines.

The Committee Chairman added, “This committee will not accept half-truths, cosmetic compliance or administrative evasions. Our focus is not merely on how much was released, but how the funds were applied, who benefited, what was achieved, and what value accrued to the Nigerian people”.

He further disclosed that the committee would conduct forensic reviews and on-site inspections of ministries, agencies, banks and project locations to verify submissions and confirm the physical existence and impact of funded projects.

It could be recalled that, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, represented by Hon. Sunday Umeha had during the inauguration of the committee last week, pledged the full support of the House to the probe, warning that no institution would be shielded from scrutiny.