Reps Angry over FG’s N6.4Bn “Spy Contact” to Israeli Firm

House of Representatives has begun probe into the controversial $40 million contract given to an Israeli firm by the federal government to spy on Nigerians who access to the internet.

The House has therefore mandated its committees on ICT; Justice; and Anti-Corruption to investigate the alleged spying contract to monitor computers and internet activities of over 45 millions Nigerians on the web.

According to a resolution reached by the House on Thursday, no further action should be taken on the "spy project", because of the national fury it has generated.

Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, representing ANPP, Zamfara state noted the contact was reported to have been secretly awarded in breach of due process, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, and the Bureau of Public Procurement Act 2007.

The sponsor of the motion told the House that the award of the contact contravened the basic privacy provision in Chapter 4, Section 37 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

According to him, the contract was awarded on the pretext of information gathering, but could be a brazen violation of citizens’ privacy.

The Aminu Tambuwal-led House of Representatives therefore commissioned its three committees to thoroughly investigate the Presidency over the controversial contract and report back in three weeks.

It would be recalled that it was widely reported that the federal government is planning to launch unprecedented assault on the privacy and civil rights of Nigerians through the reported $40 million Internet contract with an Isreali firm, Elbit Systems.

Since the report of the contract, the federal government has not been denied it.