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Tag: investigate

  • Reps to investigate Orubebe over house gift

    Reps to investigate Orubebe over house gift

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, is to be investigated by the House of Representatives over the house allegedly given to him by a construction outfit.

    The lawmakers regretted that the investigation that ought to have been taken up by anti-corruption agencies at the break of the allegation has dragged for so long.

    The necessity of the Reps’ intervention became obvious as it was alleged that the house ‘gift’ was not included in the Minister’s Assets Declaration form before the Code of Conduct Bureau.

    The decision of the lawmakers followed the adoption of a matter of urgent national importance by Kehinde Oluwasegun (ACN, Ogun) who regretted that the matter ought to have been taken over by anti-corruption agencies.

    He said: “It is saddening for me to have to come up with a motion of this nature to address a matter which ought to have been taken up by our anti-corruption agencies.

    “This motion is brought against the backdrop of mounting disclosures of corrupt practices levelled against a sitting minister by some anti-corruption outfits in the country.”

    The lawmaker noted that the weighty allegations were at first dismissed by the minister as the handiwork of his detractors and some mischief-makers who were out to extort money from him.

    “Since then, he has unfortunately laboured hard on media to belie these revelations. But anytime he comes up with his purported facts, they have been further proven to be mere tissues of lies by superior disclosure of more facts by the anti-corruption outfits.

    “For instance, he posited that he was a sitting tenant at his Mabushi multi-billion naira home, but searches from Abuja Geographic and Information Services prove beyond reasonable doubt that the property is not only his but it is in his name.

    “This single irrefutable fact establishes beyond reasonable doubt that the minister refused to declare the house in his asset declaration form, which he made on oath.

    “What is baffling is not allegation of corruption against the minister but the fact that neither the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) nor the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) has deemed it fit to wade into it.

    “We have seen how these agencies pursue others for allegations involving less than $5,000.00.

    “Their silence on this matter is casting a serious doubt on President Jonathan’s pretentious crusade against corruption. It’s too late for the House to back down on the fight against corruption. We have already set a precedent that the executive must follow if it means business with its fight against corruption.

    “When it affected our members even on trump-up charges, we shielded none. It would amount to a great travesty if we do not do justice or ensure that justice is done in this matter.

    “We cannot allow anti-corruption outfits to take our place as the legitimate voice of our over-oppressed people,” Oluwasegun added.

    In their resolution, the lawmakers mandated Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes to investigate the weighty allegations and make recommendations within 21 days.

    The presiding officer, Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha referred the motion to the Committee on Niger Delta, Ministry Affairs and Committees on anti corruption agencies.

    He said the House should not be seen to be prejudiced on the matter.

  • Reps to investigate Excess Crude Account, others

    Having declared the Excess Crude Account illegal, the House of Representatives has announced its intention to investigate the account.

    This is also in addition to an enquiry into the operations of the Stabilisation Fund Account, Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) Account as well as the Ecological Fund Account, among others.

    The House Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) has said individuals, corporate organisations and government officials have been indicted in its yet-to-be-presented report on the backlog of the Auditor-General’s report from 2003 to 2009.

    Chairman of the Committee Solomon Adeola yesterday said the Committee’s action should not be perceived as acting beyond its mandate.

    He said the PAC was constitutionally empowered to carry out its investigation beyond government domain.

    The lawmaker said the discoveries by the Committee has exposed financial irregularities in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA).

    He said: “All is not well with the financial system of this country. A lot of revenues are going down the drain that are unknown to Nigerians.

    “The Excess Crude Account can not be found anywhere in the constitution and as such, it is illegal.

    “The account was not budgeted for. Who administers the account?

    “As members of the House, we do not have access to that account and the debit and credit. All we know is that there is an account by the name of Excess Crude Account where excesses from crude oil sale go into.

    “However, let it be known that the committee is empowered by the constitution to investigate anybody but the way it goes is that we are looking into the Auditor-General’s report and the Federation Account, particularly which constitutes more than 60 percent of the report.

    “Contained in the B part of the report which is the Federation Account, were various kinds of accounts that includes the Ecological Fund Account which we are investigating.

    “Aside that, the Stabilisation Fund Account, which is under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) is also being investigated.

    “An enquiry into how the account is administered is underway.

    “As a result, there is no way that an account being reported by the Auditor-General report cannot be investigated by the PAC.

    “As such, we can now use the report where the Excess Cride Account was mentioned to ask for further accounts.

    “I must, however, tell you this, all is not well with the financial system of this country.

    “For instance, the Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) Account is another area where we have the signature account.

    “How money is being paid and withdrawn from that account is not known to anybody.

    “It is just one of a series of accounts we are gong to investigate.

    “One way or the other, we are going to ask for that account and bring it to the attention of the public.”

  • Reps panel to investigate Otedola’s N141b AMCON’s payment

    Reps panel to investigate Otedola’s N141b AMCON’s payment

    The House of Representatives yesterday made good its hreat to investigate the payment of N140.9 billion to Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) by businessman Femi Otedola.

    The Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday named the members of the panel to investigate the transaction which took place during the end of legislative year recess of the House.

    The Minority Leader of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, is to head the eight-member panel. Other members are Sani Kalgo, Idris Wase, Jerry Manwe, Pally Iriase, Muraina Ajibola, Evelyn Ojakovo and Uzo Azubuike.

    The House had criticised the N140.9 billion debt settlement deal between the Chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas and Forte Oil Plc, Mr Femi Otedola, and the AMCON, saying the transaction was suspect.

    The payment, which was credited to AMCON’s Managing Director, Mustafa Chike-Obi was the outstanding debt of Otedola to AMCON.

    Obi confirmed that the AMCON Board approved the transfer of Otedola’s assets as well as undisclosed cash to AMCON as full payment and final settlement of his liabilities.

    The House, however, said the transaction was done with “confidentiality and secrecy” and that “the National Assembly would be interested in getting full details of the transaction.”

    According to the House, the procedure was unacceptable.”It is curious that AMCON, being a government establishment, which is under the purview of the National Assembly, could do that without the knowledge of the House,” Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, had said.