There was tension in the House of Representatives on Wednesday after lawmakers ordered the arrest of officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) who staged a dramatic walkout during a committee hearing.
The incident occurred when JAMB representatives appeared before the House Committee on Basic Education and Examination Bodies for an investigative session. Trouble began after the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, failed to attend in person and instead sent a Director, Mufutau Bello, to represent him.
During the meeting, Bello reportedly asked that journalists be excused, claiming the documents to be presented were “sensitive.” His request was immediately rejected by committee members, who insisted that the House had constitutional authority to hold open proceedings.
A heated argument followed, and Bello, visibly angered, ordered his delegation to leave the session — a move that infuriated lawmakers.
Describing the act as “disrespect to the Parliament,” the committee escalated the issue to plenary, where members demanded sanctions against the JAMB officials. The House consequently directed the Sergeant-at-Arms to arrest the officials, but they had already left the National Assembly premises before the order could be enforced.
Committee Chairman Obuku Oforji condemned the conduct of the JAMB delegation, noting that the agency had ignored three prior invitations.
> “We wrote three consecutive letters to the Registrar requesting these documents; instead of appearing, he sent a director who accused us of trying to embarrass JAMB. That is very unfortunate. Our duty is to ensure every agency under our watch is accountable to Nigerians,” Oforji said.
Lawmakers resolved that Prof. Oloyede must appear in person before the committee next Tuesday, accompanied by his full management team, to submit all requested documents. They warned that failure to comply could lead to the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him.
Speaking with journalists after the session, committee member Awaji-Inombek Abiante said the lawmakers would not tolerate unaccountability from any government agency.
> “If JAMB can walk out on a National Assembly committee, it means they no longer see themselves as accountable to Nigerians. Oversight is not a favour; it’s a constitutional duty,” he said.
“We’ve heard stories where snakes swallowed money. Maybe this time, a bigger creature has done the swallowing,” he added sarcastically.
The House’s directive marks one of the most heated confrontations between lawmakers and a federal agency in recent months, as the legislature intensifies its oversight on key education bodies.
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