The Nation Newspaper

Tag: refund

  • How we received N21.1b Paris Club refund, by Bayelsa govt

    The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, straightened matters concerning the first tranche of Paris Club refund it received from the Federal Government.

    The government explained that the money was paid in two installments by the Federal Government with the state receiving N14.5bn in the first installment in November last year.

    Speaking to reporters in a transparency briefing in Yenagoa, the state capital, Deputy Governor John Jonah explained that the state in the last installment of the refund received N6.61bn in March.

    He said the total Paris Club refund that accrued to the state government from the first tranche was N21.168bn out of which N1.9bn was released to the local government.

    But he said: “The Paris Club refund to states is not a gift from the Federal Government to pay salaries; it is state governments’ money that was deducted without consulting the states. At a meeting, it was decided that the money should be paid in two installments. “

    “A chart was drawn up and the entitlements of every state were written. But, the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of Nigeria decided that, if that money was released to states for payment of salaries, there would be too much money in circulation. It was then decided the money would be paid in four installments, which is 25% at a time.“

    “When the first 25% was paid, Bayelsa state could have got N21.168 billion, but then, when the money came, they only released to us, N14.5 billion. The first tranche was supposed to have been N21.168 billion.

    “But again, that N14.5 billion was not for the state government alone, because out of the amount, N1.3 billion was for the local government councils.  So, what actually came to the state government was the balance of N13.2 billion.”

    ‘’Later, and that was why it was not reported in March. At the end of March, as far as documentation was concerned, we were supposed to receive the balance of the first tranche of N6.6bn but it was not realised in our account.

    “It later came and that is why we are accounting for it in April. Out of that money  (N6.6bn), the LGAs got N612m. So, the entire money LGAs got was N1.912bn.’’

    Jonah said for the first time, the state hit over N1bn in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in a month.

    He said the state made significant improvement in the IGR in recent times and attributed the development to aggressive revenue drive by the state government.

    He explained that, though, the state experiences seasonal fluctuations in its IGR,  the government hoped to sustain its current drive, particularly in the area of wooing investors to increase the revenue.

    Presenting the income and expenditure profile of the state, he said the government was left with N7.3bn total funds available as at the end of April, 2017.

    Jonah said out of the gross inflow of N11.6bn, Federation Accounts deductions gulped N1.5bn, thereby bringing the net inflow to N10.4bn.

     

  • Diamond Bank, refund my money!

    SIR: I paid some bills through POS with my Diamond Bank card on March 2, only to be debited twice. I have called, mailed and gone to their branch in Wuse2 Abuja since. Although they promised to refund, I am yet to get the money.

    If they can do this to me, just imagine how many Nigerians who are not even literate with similar complaints endure on daily basis.

    I plead with Diamond Bank PLC to refund the product of my sweat.

     

    My GSM: 08079301310

    Acc No: 0084718162

    Opaluwa Omera,

    Abuja.

     

  • Pensioners state stand on Paris Club refund

    Pensioners state stand on Paris Club refund

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Southsouth zone, has asked for judicious use of the Paris Club refund given to states to pay salaries and pension arrears.

    Its Zonal Chairman Comrade Benjamin Eta said pensioners were partnering unions to ensure that they were not sidelined.

    He said the National Executive Committee of the union had notified the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) of its stand.

    “The national executive committee has sent a letter to the NLC and to the union to monitor the use of that money.

    “This is because it is difficult for pensioners to get close to government,” Eta said.

    According to him, it was necessary for the NLC to be involved in the matter, considering its closeness to the government.

    “What the union will do is to liaise with the NLC, which is closer to the government, to see how that money can be properly put to use,” he said.

    The union called for the appropriate use of the cash.

    According to the Chairman of the union in Rivers State, Mr Festus Abibo, the president should prevail on governors to deploy the funds for the purpose they were meant for and not divert same for their uses.

    He called on state governments to carry out biometric verification of retirees from 2014-2016 to pay up their gratuities and entitle-ments early.

    The Rivers NUP chief lamented that  retirees had been facing financial difficulties since 2004.

    He appealed to the relevant authorities to address the documentation matters of retirees from 2014 to date and ensure the commencement of payments to alleviate the sufferings of these senior citizens.

  • Governor diverts N500m refund to repay his loan

    Governor diverts N500m refund to repay his loan

    EFCC recovers cash from firm

    NGF: we did nothing wrong

    Consultant: we broke no law

    Detectives have recovered N500million allegedly diverted by a governor from the London-Paris Club loan refund.

    The governor diverted the N500million (out of his state’s share of the N19b first tranche) to a mortgage bank but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) tracked and secured the cash.

    Besides, two firms have refunded N220million of the N3.5billion traced to some aides of Senate President  Bukola Saraki.

    But the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) insists it was not within its purview to determine how Melrose General Services Limited spent its share of the N3.5billion consultancy fees. The company  yesterday said it was not involved in any N3.5billion scandal.

    It said it executed the consultancy awarded it in line with global best practice.

    EFCC traced N2.2billion payment to another consultant, which allegedly gave the yet unnamed governor N500million.

    The governor directed that the cash should be transferred to a mortgage bank where he was indebted to the tune of N800million.

    The governor used the “cash-at-hand” to defray his debts with a waiver by the mortgage company.

    A source close to the investigation said: “Of the N19billion, we discovered that a consultant brought by the North-West governor was paid N2.2billion. From the N2.2billion, the governor got N500million.

    “He then instructed that the N500million be transferred to the mortgage bank where he had borrowed money to buy two properties in 2013 and was unable to pay. The debts accumulated to N800million but with N500million cash-at-hand, the governor renegotiated the debts and used the cash to defray his liabilities.”

    According to the source, the mortgage bank decided to refund the N500million to the EFCC. “We have all the evidence of the recovery in our records,” he said.

    The two companies which refunded about N220million out of the N3.5billion consultancy fees in which some aides of the Senate President were implicated, are Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness Services.

    The Nation stumbled on a document about the investigation. It states: “That Mr. Bosun Ottun, the Managing director of Xtract Energy Services, a company that deals in forex trading confirmed that Wasp Networks Limited transferred N170, 000,000 on the 16th January 2017 to Xtract Energy Services Limited’s FCMB account for the purchase of $350,000, which he later transferred into Wasp Networks Stanbic IBTC US dollar domiciliary account.

    “That Wasp Networks has returned to the EFCC the sum of N200million paid to the company by Mr. Robert Mbonu of Melrose General Services.

    “That Mr. Robert Mbonu through Melrose General Services Company paid N20million to Thebe Wellness Services.

    “That Mr. Richardson A. Ajayi, the Managing Director of Thebe Wellness Services confirmed that N20million from Melrose General Services Company was a loan from Mr. Robert Mbonu, which was to be used as an investment in Thebe Wellness Services.”

    On the jewellry which cost about N92, 685,000($183,000 then) of the N3.5billion refund, the EFCC said the former Executive Director of Heritage Bank, Mr. Robert Mbonu, could not say the exact date the items will be delivered.

    The document added: “That Mr. Robert Mbonu, through Melrose General Services Company Limited Access Bank account transferred N92, 685,000 to Acarast Communication Limited in exchange for $183,000 USD, which was later transferred to Bhaskar Devji Jewellers in Dubai for purchase of jewellery.

    “That Mr. Robert Mbonu has not taken delivery of the jewellery and couldn’t provide a date when the jewellery he paid for would be delivered.”

    But, the NGF yesterday said it had no business with how Melrose spent the N3.5billion consultancy fees it paid to the company.

    It, however, confirmed that the company was one of its consultants on the London-Paris Club loan refund.

     

     

  • 36 states, FCT demand $6.9b Paris Club refund

    36 states, FCT demand $6.9b Paris Club refund

    Fed Govt to return excess deductions in five to 10 years

    States are demanding about $6.9billion Paris Club loan deductions from the Federal Government.

    The government has raised a verification and reconciliation team on the claims by states to end over deduction of loans which have crippled many states.

    It was also learnt that the government has set guidelines for accessing the refund.

    The Federal Government may— no thanks to the recession— issue long tenored instruments of between five and 10 years to states with valid claims to refund the money.

    President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the release of about N522.74 billion in the first tranche to enable states offset outstanding salaries and pensions.

    The initial payment was greeted with controversy following the remittance of about N19billion from the N522.74 billion into two accounts of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as commission to consultants.

    According to a document obtained by The Nation, states are demanding US$6, 923,722,131.81 refund from the Federal Government.

    The states based their requests on unaccounted deductions on “Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Report of the Reconciliation of State Governments’ External Debts, Vol. 1 (May 2007)”.

    The breakdown is  as follows: Abia ($151, 410, 816.39); Adamawa($161, 968, 221.27); Akwa Ibom($344, 122,584.90); Anambra($162, 163, 091.98); Bauchi  ($182, 192, 756.59); Bayelsa($329, 744, 322.49); Benue($81, 580, 708.60); Borno($194, 461, 850.74); Cross River ($160, 936, 263.51); Delta ($365, 655, 143.86); Ebonyi($119, 419,427.28); and Edo( $161, 354, 346, .83).Others are  Ekiti($126, 432, 758.86); Enugu($142, 034, 156.54); Gombe ($118,486,826.45); Imo($185, 451, 792. 92); Jigawa ($188, 282, 561.77); Kaduna($204, 549, 118.60); Kano( $287, 952, 190.23); Katsina($217, 274, 991.01); Kebbi($158,344,357.37); Kogi($159, 674,903.18); Kwara($135, 646, 207 .33); Lagos($223, 773, 195.58);

    The list includes Nasarawa($120, 557, 593.92); Niger($191, 014, 388.20); Ogun($152, 036, 415.75); Ondo ($ 185, 527, 107.67); Osun(4167, 261, 095.11); Oyo(4209, 314, 168.61); Plateau($149, 512, 027.96); Rivers ($462, 593, 183.07); Sokoto($170, 625, 921.77); Taraba(4148, 662,635.52);  Yobe($143, 393,460.04); Zamfara($144, 169, 154. 81); and FCT($18, 142, 185).

    Some states sought refund from 1982 to 2006, others put their timeline at 1995 to 2006.

    In one of their letters to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo through a consultancy firm, the states indicated that the demand for refund began during the tenure of a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala.

    The letter gave some insights into efforts at reconciling debt records which the Buhari administration inherited.

    The details are contained in the letter by Mauritz Walton Nigeria Limited, which was engaged by some states for the reconciliation of their loan refunds.

    The letter was signed by Dr. Maurice Ibe (Managing Consultant) and Alh. Sani Anani (Associate Consultant) for the firm.

    The letter states: “The above named company was appointed as consultants by some state governments to carry out reconciliation and recovery of all over deductions on foreign loans (1995 to 2006).

    “Subsequently, the loan records were received and reconciled for all the states under our client list (1982 to 2006). It was discovered that the total deductions from the states’ statutory revenue from June 1995 to March 2006 (period of “first line charge policy”) were completely omitted in the past reconciliation exercises.

    “It is important to kindly inform that Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Debt Management Office (DMO) and FAAC Sub-Committee did not include this period.

    “Therefore, based on our findings, we submitted a demand notice to the then Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance as established over deduction of our clients (states).

    “The purpose of this letter is to seek your kind intervention as the Chairman of Debt Management Office (DMO) to resolve these issues once and for all.”

    A Presidency source said: “We need to put on records that President Buhari is embarking on loan refund due to over-deductions over the years. Some states have overpaid what they borrowed. This became rampant during the ‘First Line Charge’ period of 1992 – 2002 when deductions were made from Revenue Allocation Accounts.

    “Most of the over deductions in dispute occurred before the establishment of the Debt Management Office (DMO). Also, deductions from First Line Charge has been suspended since 2012.

    “Prior to the establishment of DMO, some states were servicing loans that records could not be traced again. The President has decided to clean up the debt management system in a way that some of these states will be off the hook.

    “What he has done is to ask states to come up with their claims which would be verified by the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office (DMO), RMAFC, and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

    The President is said to have decided to direct the release of some refund (first and second tranches) to states pending reconciliation of debt records to enable them pay outstanding salaries and pensions.

    He took the decision after getting the report of a Presidential Committee which looked into all liabilities owed to all States of the Federation by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), The Nation learnt.

    Responding to a question, the source added: “A verification/ reconciliation committee is already working on these loans and claims by states.

    “The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has an agreement with the President that any state which gets more refund than it ought to pay back. This is why states ought to use their refund well.”

    Another document has also given insights into the findings of the Presidential Committee and the guidelines which states must follow to get their refund.

    The document said in part: “The Committee met and after deliberating on the issue of States’ claims for refund of the Federal Government’s over-deductions on their Revenue Allocation Accounts in the period prior to the establishment of the DMO, wishes to communicate the following:

    1. The Federal Government is prepared and willing to revisit the issue of States’ claims of over-deductions from States’ Revenue Accounts during the period of First Line Charge, which had been suspended since 2012.
    2. States with genuine claims should make their submissions directly to the Presidential Committee and not through any Consultant, within the timeline given by the Committee.

    iii. Claims by all the States of the Federation would be considered together by the Presidential Committee and no State would be treated separately;

    1. A thorough verification process would be undertaken to sift through the submissions made by the States, with a view to either authenticating or rejecting the claims, based on their veracity or otherwise.

    “You may kindly wish to find below, the Guidelines for the consideration of claims by all States:

    1. All submissions should be addressed to the Presidential Committee on the Verification of States’ Claims of Over-Deductions from Revenue Allocation Account in respect of External Debt Service Payments (1992-2002) and submitted to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, with a copy to the Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO);
    2. It is the responsibility of each participating State to establish its case and taking into consideration that the burden of proof rests with the State.

    iii. The use of Consultants by any State is not acceptable. States should forward their submissions directly to the Committee.

    1. Each submission by States should be accompanied by the following documents:
    2. Demand Notices from Creditors on a loan-by-loan basis in respect of loans on which claims are based;
    3. Details of all States’ loans
    4. Loan Agreements;
    5. Evidence of Payments to the Creditors (authorised by the Creditors);
    6. Evidence of deductions from the States’ Revenue Allocation;
    7. Category of debts on which claims are being made;
    8. Evidence of amount outstanding on a year-by-year basis (from 1992- 2002);
    9. Where applicable, for every claim, there should be confirmation of the status of the debt by the creditor; and,
    10. Any other relevant information/document.

    “The Federal Government would issue long tenored instruments of between 5 to 10 years to States with valid claims of over deduction, as a means of refunding the States.”

  • Governors: we didn’t divert Paris Club refund

    Governors: we didn’t divert Paris Club refund

    The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) at the weekend denied that it diverted part of the first tranche of the Paris-London Club refund to states.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating the allegation and  President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday ordered the release of the second tranche of the refund to states.

    Spokesman of the NGF Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, in a statement said:

    “The Nigeria Governors’ Forum read with utter disgust reports making the rounds in the print, electronic and social media that monies accruing to states from the Paris and London Clubs refunds have found their way into private pockets.

    “Apart from stating that these reports are unfounded and are only a figment of the imagination of the writers, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum wishes to also categorically state that nothing illegal has been committed in the entire process leading to the final disbursement to states of the first tranche Paris-London Clubs repayment of the excess deductions from states’ coffers and the refund of their loans.

    “Following the barrage of innuendoes, untruths and outright falsehoods that have pervaded the media, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum deems it imperative to shed light on the transactions that followed and put the records straight.

    “The Paris London Clubs loan refund has been on the cards since 2005. Successive state governors had tried to get reimbursement for the excess deductions from their states in the past but did not succeed. The failure resulted from a number of reasons, varying from one state to the other. It is therefore to the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s credit that this set of governors was able to persuade President Muhammadu Buhari to authorize the release of the funds for disbursement to deserving states.

    “President Buhari’s desire to reflate the economy at a time when states were insolvent and unable to pay salaries was why he acceded to the request by the current group of governors that the money be released to the states. It is true that there were conditions attached to the disbursements but these arose from the collective and voluntary resolution of the governors and not any draconian order from any quarters.”

    “And each and every approving authority, including the Federal Ministry of Finance, the office of the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria and the office of the Auditor General of the Federation as well as the National Assembly were duly informed from the beginning to the end of all the transactions.

    “Nothing illegal was done and no monies was paid into the personal account of any Governor, legislator or top officials at any of the levels and arms of government in the country.”he said

    He also noted that President Muhammadu Buhari would not have approved the payment of the second tranche of the refund to the states, if the Federal Government had found anything corrupt, illegal and unpatriotic about the utilization of the first tranche of the Paris-London Clubs Fund.

    He added: “Note also most importantly at this juncture, that every decision that was taken in respect of all the transactions was with the full consent and blessing of the 36 governors.

    “We therefore find the insinuation in the media that monies went into the private accounts of seven unidentified governors as not only preposterous but mischievous.

    “This is more so because none of the reports was able to identify a single governor, not to talk of seven.  The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) itself had issued a release exculpating all the governors, saying it was investigating the matter further.

    “But instead of allowing the EFCC to conclude its investigations, a particular section of the media resorted to this unsavory falsehood which puts the media and its practitioners in bad light.”

  • Terms for states as N500b Paris Club refund is ready

    Terms for states as N500b Paris Club refund is ready

    Presidency gets ‘damning’ feedback on first tranche

    Another London-Paris Club loan refund (about N500billion) is on the way for states— with fresh hurdles for governors.

    The Presidency has made it mandatory for all the states to account for the first tranche of the loan refunds – in line with the agreement  it reached with the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    States implicated in the mismanagement of the first tranche may not get the fresh funds.

    Some of the 36 governors are being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) for allegedly diverting the first tranche of the refund.

    The governors (seven are involved in the scandal) engaged some curious consultants, who got part of their states’ share of the refund.

    Part of the funds was allocated to some National Assembly leaders who had no business with the refund, it was learnt.

    The Nation gathered that the Presidency was set to release fresh refund to states —in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s determination  to rescue the 36 states from economic collapse.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The government is about to release another tranche of London-Paris Club loan refunds to states. It is about the same amount like the first tranche. Let us say about N500billion.

    “The refund is entirely the initiative of the Federal Government to improve the socio-economic situation in the 36 states. President Buhari was disturbed that many states were finding it difficult to  pay workers’ salaries and pensions.

    “But the release of the second batch of refund will be based on some conditions as agreed upon by the Presidency and the Nigerian Governors Forum(NGF). President Buhari has said that he will not accept any excuse from any governor for diverting public funds.

    “Before the first tranche was released, the NGF had an agreement with President Buhari that about 25 per cent to 50 per cent will be used to offset outstanding salaries and pensions.

    “This time around, the Presidency has made up its mind that any state which breached the agreement will not be entitled to second tranche.”

    Asked how the Presidency will know, the source added: “We have feedback from the states on how some of these governors have diverted and misused the first set of refunds. Some of them did not spend up to 15 per cent on salaries and pensions. The records are there to prove the breach.

    “ We also got reports from security agencies, labour, pensioners, concerned leaders in various states and many whistle-blowers on how the governors spent the first tranche.”

    The source described security reports on some of the governors as “damning”.

    Some governors were said to have converted the refund to personal use and the cash expended on “wasteful” projects.

    “In some instances, some projects executed have no bearing with the needs of some states. It is quite sad,” the source said.

    The investigation of the EFCC into the disbursement of the first refunds confirmed that some of the governors were involved in illegal deductions and remittances into NGF account. I think about seven of them were actively involved.

    “The position of the Presidency is that governors implicated in London-Paris Club fraud may forfeit refunds to their states. We will reveal the outcome of investigation on some of the governors for the people of their states to know why such a punitive measure is necessary.”

    Another top government source, who confirmed the moves to reimburse states, however, said: “The second tranche will be released based on the compliance of states with Fiscal Sustainability Plan(FSP), which was endorsed by all the governors at a meeting of the National  Economic Council (NEC) on May 19.

    “We have a benchmark which we mutually  consented to. As a matter of fact, the governors agreed that further disbursements will be based on the states meeting agreed targets and will be subject to monitoring and evaluation by Independent Monitoring Agents. States which fail to meet the targets will be excluded from this refund.”

    According to the plan by the Federal Ministry of Finance,  states will be required to:

    • set and meet targets to enhance Internally Generated Revenue (IGR);
    • establish Efficiency Units to reduce overhead costs;
    • privatise State Owned Enterprises;
    • domesticate the Fiscal Responsibility Act; and
    • limit bank loans.

    “The Federal Government has agreed to develop IPSAS compliant software for States to use, and to develop new Bond Issuance guidelines to ease access to the Capital Market for states wishing to fund developmental projects,” the source said.

    The Presidency has so far released N1, 266.44trillion to the states in the past one year including N713.70billion special intervention fund.

    Following protests by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Buhari approved the release of N522.74 billion(first tranche)  to states as refunds pending reconciliation of records.

    Each  state was  entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion, being 25 per cent of the amounts claimed.

    Minister of Finance Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension, which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

    The Presidency directed the states to devote a minimum of 50 per cent of any amount disbursed to address “challenges associated with salaries and pensions”.

    Some governors are said to have failed to disclose the actual amount given to their states.

    Some of the governors have devoted only 10 to 25 per cent of the funds to the payment of backlog of salaries.

  • Ondo gets N6.5b Paris Club refund

    Ondo gets N6.5b Paris Club refund

    The Ondo State government yesterday said it received N6.5 billion as part-payment of money owed it by the Federal Government.
    This is from excess deductions from the state’s account for the Paris Club payment.
    Governor Olusegun Mimiko ordered that part of the fund should be used to offset salaries.
    Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade, in a statement, said the N6.5 billion was from the $185 million owed the state on Paris Club deductions.
    The statement said of the N6.5 billion received, the state will get N4.37 billion, which represents 67.3 per cent of the sum.
    The local councils will get N2.1 billion, which represents 32.7 per cent.

  • Oshiomhole should refund council funds, says PDP

    The Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to refund the illegal deductions made from statutory allocations to the local government councils in the state.

    The PDP Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, who stated this at a press briefing in Okada, Ovia North East Local Government Area, said this would enable the local councils pay all arrears of workers’ salaries ranging from six to 18 months.

    He said the deductions made at the Governor’s Office were enough to pay salaries of council workers and that the allocations to local councils published in the newspapers are different from what is actually released to the councils.

    Orbih challenged the state government to publish what has been paid to the local governments from the internally generated revenue since he assumed office almost eight years ago.

    He said the government would not have had difficulties paying salaries, if local councils were left to manage their allocations, including internally generated revenues (IGR).

    Orbih urged local council workers to protect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and to use it to vote out the APC during the September 10 governorship election.

    His words: “We can confirm that the reason why he has refused to conduct elections to fill the vacant positions of chairmen and councilors is to enable him squander allocations due the local governments in the name of saving it for them.

    “The truth is that rather than supporting the local government councils, Oshiomhole has impoverished them by not only denying them their full allocations as and when due, but also by denying them their share of state IGR”.

    Head of Service, Akoko Edo Local Government Area, Mr. Tom Ebhotemen described the PDP’s allegations as baseless. He said members of the National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were aware that the state government does not touch local council money.

    His words: “We are aware that the state government does not take any kobo from our allocation. The problem is that the allocation has dropped; we have been paying teachers’ salary and we have also been paying our own workers’ salaries. We have been doing projects before and paying salaries as well. The problem is that the allocation dropped sharply. Anybody who says the state government tinkers with our money is lying.

    “NULGE is aware that the state government does not touch our money; they are also aware of the drop in allocation; all they ask is for us to alternate the payment of primary school teachers and their members, such that if we pay primary school teachers fully this month, we should pay NULGE members fully the next month.”

  • N115b loot: ex-Air chiefs, politicians top refund list

    N115b loot: ex-Air chiefs, politicians top refund list

    INEC officials, others also surrendered cash 

    EFCC probes ex-Akwa Ibom governor

    Barely 24 hours after the confirmation of the recovery of about N115billion, The Nation yesterday glimpsed a likely list of some of those behind the huge refund.

    They include some politically exposed persons, ex-military chiefs and some of those involved in the $115million poll bribery scandal.

    Besides, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is said to be tracking about $3.9billion believed to have been stolen.

    A Presidency source however said the government was not yet aware of the said $3.9billion.

    The recovered cash includes the following: $3.1b  from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) accounts (the money was paid to the oil giant by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited); $1m seized from a former Chief of Air Staff;  National Broadcasting Commission (N10,061,172,600); another Chief of Air Staff(N2.3b); an ex-presidential aide (N900m); a businessman (N750m); an ex-governor of Delta State ($15m); an ex-Chief of Staff and others (N420m); and an ex-Minister (N140m); an ex-Military Administrator  (N100m).

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials in Oyo and Ogun (N359millon); a former Minister (N2m); a former state Speaker N1m and N580 million (£2 million) in jewelry, allegedly from a former minister.

    An EFCC source said: “We cannot release the names of those affected because some of them are already on trial before the court. We do not want to take any prejudicial action. We have been advised against doing so.

    “As soon as it is legally convenient, we will release the full list.”

    Also yesterday, It was learnt that the EFCC was probing a former governor of Akwa Ibom State in connection with N450million which was allocated to the state out of the N23.29billion allegedly provided by former Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke. The cash is believed to have been for INEC officials as bribe to change the results of the 2015 presidential election.

    The anti-graft agency had questioned a former Military Administrator of the state and others in connection with the bribe.

    But during one of the interrogation sessions, one of the suspects said the ex-governor allegedly “deducted N150million out of the bribe sum for personal use”.

    “We are likely to invite the ex-governor for interaction,” the EFCC source added.

    But there were indications  yesterday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was tracking about $3.9billion.

    The said amount was allegedly not yet captured in the fact-sheet which was released to the public on Saturday by the Federal Government due to an outstanding reconciliation process.

    The $3.9billion includes the $15million seized from former Delta State Governor James Ibori, who is serving term in the United Kingdom.

    Other components are about $3.1billion intercepted in the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG), which was yet to be moved to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in line with the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy.

    A reliable source in the anti-graft commission, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said the list of recoveries issued out on Saturday might not be the final.

    The source said: “The EFCC has also intercepted over $3.9billion, including those in the NNPC and NLNG accounts and put in the TSA account.

    “This has not been captured yet. So, what we have on Saturday was certainly not the final list of recoveries.”

    “Following a judgment of the Court of Appeal, a $15million recovered from ex-Governor James Ibori has been paid into the treasury too.

    “We will soon make the breakdown available to Nigerians accordingly. This process is a continuous one .”

    A top Presidency source said: “The affected $3.9billion is unknown to this government. The list of recoveries released to Nigerians on Saturday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed, went through vetting and other checks before the announcement.

    “Do you know the value of $3.2billion? If there is such money in the system, do you think we will go to AFDB for a loan of $1billion?

    “I only hope you will get the figures right from whoever is giving the information. Some people have sent an online link to the government but the source only quoted a member of the House of Representatives.”