There were
indications on Wednesday that members of the House of Representatives
Committee on Public Accounts had come under intense pressure to tread softly on
their ongoing investigation into the alleged financial
excesses of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
It was
also learnt in Abuja that Alison-Madueke chartered a third jet for
her use, besides the two already in the records of the committee.
The Solomon
Olamilekan-led committee is investigating the expenditure of N10bn
on a Challenger 850 chartered and maintained for the minister’s use.
It was earlier reported that the committee
was holding preliminary meetings on the investigation when it stumbled on fresh
information that Alison-Madueke also chartered a second jet for her trips.
A source disclosed
that a return trip on the Global Express XRS to London for example, gulped
€600,000 or N137m.
However, a lawmaker
said hat since the House passed the resolution last week to
probe the allegations against the minister, “forces within Nigeria, especially
outside the National Assembly,” had been calling some of the
committee members relentlessly.
He said, “At a
point on Tuesday, the pressure became unbearable. I think people are beginning
to think that the House is embarking on a witch-hunt. But that is not the idea.
“We are doing our
constitutional duty to expose corruption wherever it exists.
“If at the end of
the day, the investigation proves that it was justifiable for a minister to
spend billions of naira to charter aircraft, so be it.”
Efforts to get
key members of the committee to comment on the alleged
pressure hit a brick wall.
Olamilekan
neither answered our correspondent’s calls nor replied text messages on
Wednesday.
When
contacted, the spokesman for the House, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said
it would be inappropriate for the House to speak on a matter it had
referred to its committee for investigation.
“The matter
is before the committee”, he said.
Findings on Wednesday
showed that the committee was gathering information on the existence of a third
jet chartered by the minister for the same purposes as the first two.
A source close to
the Public Accounts committee, who confided in our
correspondent, said, “From available information, “there are three
aircraft the minister charters for her trips within and outside the country.
“What they were doing was to alternate the planes,”
The source, who did
not want his name in print, was however quick to add that the
committee’s assignment was only to investigate and not to indict anybody.
“Well, the
assignment before the committee is an investigation. Nobody has been accused of
any wrongdoing for now, but we have to establish all these allegations,” he
said.
The committee was yet to decide on the date it would
summon Alison-Madueke.
A meeting of
the committee, which reportedly started around 1pm, had still in progress as
of 4pm.
Top on the
agenda were said to be the allegations against the minister.
Another
source said, “The members are meeting to discuss the methodology to adopt
in the investigation.
“An aviation
consultant is assisting with additional information.
“Essentially, the
investigation is to establish whether the minister did spend these huge funds
on the jets.
“Who approved the
funds? Was the money appropriated by the National Assembly?
“What aspect of our
laws allows a minister to fly in chartered aircraft overseas for her private or
official trips.
“These are the
issues and all agencies or officials involved will be invited to state their
side of the case.”
They can't comment evil people
ReplyDeleteThey can't comment evil people
ReplyDeleteI have said it times without number that Jonathan administration is highly permissive to corruption. There had never been any administration where ministers are so extravagant like this. History will judge Jonathan. As the most corrupt leader to have ruled Nigeria. We are aware that they are looting for Jonathan's reelection . He can never win in Jesus name. Amen!
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