New Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Hon. Mustapha Dawaki, has denied the shut down, seizure and relocation of the committee's secretariat by Speaker Dogara, as alleged by the former chairman of the committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

The Chairman who assured that all the records, both soft and hard, as well as archival setup are intact and safe, appealed that such allegations should be totally disregarded.

Meanwhile, when journalists demanded to be taken to the secretariat located within the House of Reps, it was under locks and keys, and heavily guarded by security agents.

Dawaki who briefed newsmen Saturday evening, in Abuja, in the company of the committee clerk, Hon. Able Ochigbo, had earlier admitted that the committee secretariat was intact, and has not been threatened in anyway, stating further that none of the committee's staff member has been subjected to any form of threat, intimidation or harassment from any quarters.

However, the committee clerk who led newsmen to the office was denied access to the secretariat by one of the security agents who was seen pretending to be on phone for over 25 minutes, seeking clarifications from his boss whether or not to allow access.

He held the phone to his ear until journalists at the scene got pissed off and decided to leave.

The clerk, however, still insisted that he used the office before coming for the press briefing and assured journalists that all was well.

Earlier at the briefing, deputy chairman of the committee, Chris Azubogu, who was accused by the sacked chairman, of having collected $20,000 alongside nine others, before briefing the press yesterday in defence of speaker Dogara, declined comments on the matter.

•Photo shows Hon. Mustapha Dawaki.

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