By Ragan M. Conteh
Parliament of Sierra Leone have instituted disciplinary action against Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, representing Constituency 132, and Hon. Hindolo Moio Ngevao, which the Leadership of Parliament referred to as trumpeting unverified corruption allegations against Parliament and its leadership.
Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, representing Constituency 132, and Hon. Hindolo Moio Ngevao were both suspended until after the Oversight Committee on Privileges and Ethics thoroughly finished the investigation of all allegations levied by them against Parliament and the leadership of the House of Parliament, respectively.
In a similar development, Hon. Momoh Bockarie, representing Constituency 012, and Hon. Billo Sow have also been subjected to the Committee on Ethics and Privileges. This is as a result of the complaints being reported to the Leadership of Parliament for assault and using derogatory languages against the President of the Female Caucus in Parliament, Hon. Veronica Sesay and Hon. Lollo Tongi, representing Constituency 001, respectively.
Making his submissions, the Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Dr. Chernoh Abass Bundu, stated that, due to the three retreats held in Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko during the recess period, Parliament have resolved that it is no more business as usual in terms of discipline, procedures and practices of Members of Parliament.
According to the Speaker, the two MPs have been suspended from all Parliamentary Committee sittings until the House sees the Committee on Privileges and Ethics submit a comprehensive report on the investigation of the unverified alleged corruption referred to Members of Parliament over BBC by Hon. Hindolo Moio Ngevao and the alleged interference allegation of the Leadership of Parliament on the Transparency and Accountability Committee in Parliament, recently, by Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh.
It could be recalled that the former Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Transparency and Accountability, who doubles as the Member of Parliament representing Constituency 132, Hon. Ibrahim Tawa Conteh, resigned from his position as Chairman of the Transparency and Accountability Committee. He referenced his decision to the alleged interference of the Leadership of Parliament in his Committee’s activities.
The resignation took place on Thursday 10th September 2020 in Committee Room I, Parliament Building, Tower Hill in Freetown.
Hon. Tawa Conteh said his Committee’s sitting was interrupted during the probing of the Information Minister’s conflicting status report submitted to the Committee, especially on the unbundling of the Sierra Leone Cable Limited (SALCAB).
Hon. Hindolo Ngavao was also suspended based on what he said over the BBC popular program, insinuating that the Sierra Leone Parliament was corrupt.
According to the Leadership in Parliament, this accusation will lead to the discrediting of the hard earned reputation of not only Parliament but also the New Direction government, and should thoroughly be investigated by the Oversight Committee on Privileges and Ethics, Hon. Mathew Nyuma noted.
He went further that, until the two suspended MPs are investigated, they will not attend Parliamentary sittings.