By Africa 24 Parliamentary Reporter
The Audit Report submitted to Parliament by the Auditor General is said to be the property of Parliament since MPs are peoples’ representatives.
“Let nobody call you to investigate anything from the Audit Report, it is Parliament’s responsibility to conduct investigations and hearings on this Report. If there is any issue that Parliament deems to be criminal or in the opinion of Parliament meets the requirements of other provisions or other legislations passed by Parliament, for which other bodies in governance or the executive or otherwise are responsible, Parliament will refer to them”.
According to Hon Tawa Conteh it is not the business of any other institution or agency to start hearings or conduct hearings on this document afresh.
“So if the Anti-Corruption Commission or any other body calls you, tell them the Deputy Speaker of Parliament has ruled and you are going to stay by that ruling, “he warned.
He stressed that until and unless that rule changes, nobody can issue any summons, subpoenas or warrants MDAs, because the document belongs to Parliament, and nobody has any legislation that gives them power or authority over this Audit Report.
Hon Deputy Speaket said except Parliament and by the powers of the grund norm or the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone,” he stressed.