The Senate committee had observed discrepancies in the accounts of the CAC and was therefore miffed at the continual absence of the CAC boss
The Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Ishaq Hussain Magaji has come under fire from the Senate committee on finance as it has mandated the Inspector-General of Police to compel his appearance before it within 24 hours.
The Registrar General had turned down the Senate Committee’s invitation to defend its Commission’s 2024 budget on Wednesday, which infuriated Sen. Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), the chairman of the committee.
Meanwhile, the Committee noticed certain financial discrepancies in the accounts submitted by the CAC and felt that more information was necessary.
Having acknowledged multiple letters of invitation from the committee, the four top officials of the Commission declined to provide an explanation for the RG’s absence from the panel.
Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (APC, Anambra South), who couldn’t contain his disappointment anymore called for punitive measures against the RG to serve as a warning to others.
He said, “Can they submit their names to us so that we can invoke sections on them? Let them submit their names to us.”
A further note of frustration at the RG’s disregard for the committee came from Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC, Katsina South), who questioned what the CAC boss was hiding that made him afraid to appear before the committee.
He said, “I think it’s disrespectful for the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission to shun this Committee for the third time. We shall take very very strict measures against him because even the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appears before us to present a budget. Who is the Registrar General of CAC that cannot appear before us?”
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Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi) however cautioned the CAC officials against returning without the RG, urging them to provide an explanation for the agency’s financial spending.
He said: “Mr chairman, it is imperative to understand where they are coming from that this is not the first time they are appearing before the committee. There was a deliberate discussion with you that there was discrepancies in revenue generation and expenditure by the Corporate Affairs Commission and we said, the Registrar General should be here. Yet you are here and you probably told him that you can do the job. Even if you can do the job, this job is not for you please. Don’t take the bullet that is meant for him”.
In his ruling after reactions by the committee members, Sen. Musa said: “With all sense of humility, the Corporate Affairs Registrar General has disregarded this Committee.
“Distinguished Colleagues, Corporate Affairs Commission was present when we treated MTEF/FSP and the Director of Finance were here. We saw discrepancies and we told you to go and come back. You have your book keepers; you have your records and we asked you to go and tidy up and report back, but you never did.
“I have cause to tell the secretariat to send you a letter, you appear here. When you came, you said the Registrar General just felt ill, I excused you expecting you are going to come back with documents requested.
“You know what the financial regulation of this country is. I had cause to tell the committee secretariat to write you again and you are here without the RG. You are the custodian of finances of the Corporate Affairs Commission and there are discrepancies.
“How many entities are registered in this country. How many? How much were you reporting there and you are taking us with levity. I am invoking Section 89(2) mandating the Inspector General of Police to compel appearance of the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission before the Senate Committee on Finance within 24 hours.”
