The committee held the meeting to look over JAMB’s budget,
check how it has used its own money, confirm payments to the consolidated
revenue fund, and review its bank statements from 2023 until now.

During the session, Obuku Oforji, chairman of the committee,
said the panel had written several letters to JAMB on October 6, 17, and 23,
respectively, requesting the submission of specific documents and the personal
appearance of Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar.

However, Mufutau Bello, a director in the registrar’s
office, represented Oloyede at the hearing.

Bello later asked journalists to leave the room, arguing
that the documents he intended to present contained sensitive information.

The committee declined the request, saying the hearing would
not be held behind closed doors.

Displeased by the committee’s stance, Bello paraded his team
and vacated the hearing room.

The committee chair ordered the sergeant-at-arms to arrest
the JAMB officials, but they left before he could do so.

Oforji condemned the action of the JAMB, describing it as
unacceptable.

“We wrote three consecutive letters to the registrar
requesting these documents; instead of appearing, he sent a director who
accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is very unfortunate,” Oforji said.

“Our duty is to ensure every agency under our watch is
accountable to Nigerians,” he added.

Speaking with journalists after the incident, Awaji-Inombek
Abiante, a member of the committee, said legislators would not tolerate
unaccountability.

“If JAMB can walk out on a national assembly committee, it
means they no longer see themselves as accountable to Nigerians. Oversight is
not a favour; it’s a constitutional duty,” he said.

“We’ve heard stories where snakes swallowed money. Maybe
this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing.”

Rodney Amboiowei, another member of the committee, said no
agency has the authority to dictate how parliament conducts its business.

“Nigerians deserve to know how their money is spent,” he
said.

Subsequently, the committee adjourned the session to next
Tuesday and directed the JAMB registrar to appear in person.

Oforji said that if the JAMB registrar fails to appear, an
arrest warrant will be issued against him.

“Failure to do so will compel the committee to invoke its
powers under sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution,” he said.