The Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim, representing Ipaiye/Oloru Malete Constituency, had accused the Speaker of reawarding a contract for an already functioning website of the Assembly for N33, 888,700.

Ibrahim alleged that the Speaker, in a memo of March 19, 2012, awarded the contract without following the due process.

But addressing journalists, the Speaker confirmed that he initiated the investigation.

Describing the allega-tion as "fictitious and malicious," he said that he personally caused the Ethics and Privileges Committee of the House to investigate the investigation immediately.

According to him, he received the petition on May 5 and wrote to the committee on May 7.

The committee replied him to state his side of the matter which he did on May 9.

The Speaker added that in accordance with Rule 67(b) 3 of the Assembly, he is duty bound to act promptly on any petition received by referring it to the Ethics and Privileges Commit-tee to investigate.

He, however, pleaded not to speak further on the matter until the committee concluded its findings and recommends to the full House