House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement on Thursday over an accusation of N17 billion payment for pre-shipment inspection consultancy.

The Auditor-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris, and former Accountant-General of the Federation Mr Jonah Otunla, were also among those to appear before the legislators over the payment issue.

Tuesday is set for the meeting of the three top government officials with the house committee members.

This invitation is coming after their refusal to appear at the public forum held by the committee on Thursday.

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Isa Dutse, who took a brief for the minister at the sitting was turned down by the lawmakers, who insisted no excuse was tenable for her absence.

In view of the provisions of section 15 of the Public Procurement Act 2007, the Chairman of the committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke, held that the three government officials had breached the law, as it relates to their functions in the consultancy deal.

The minister was however directed, through the permanent secretary, to provide the relevant documents such as the president’s approval for the contract, agreement signed by contractors and payment record.

The legislators’ decision was in order to ascertain the claims by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation that the payment in the sum of N17 billion has been made.

Oke said the public procurement regulation was one instrument by which corruption could be checked in the system.