Subsidy probe scandal:

Jonathan: I’m committed to c’ttee report

. Investigators quiz, detain Farouk

. House begins fresh probe of Otedola

 
President Goodluck Jonathan said he remains committed to implementing the House of Representatives report on fuel subsidy scam in spite of the bribery scandal that has plagued the exercise.

A statement yesterday by the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, said the bribery scandal involving the chairman of Zenon Oil and Gas, Femi Otedola and the chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on fuel subsidy regime between 2009 and 2011, Rep Farouk Lawan, will not deter him from prosecuting those indicted by the report.

On Tuesday, the police quized Otedola over his revelation that he paid Rep Farouk Lawan the sum of $620, 000 as bribe in a sting operation.

Farouk had earlier denied collecting any money from Otedola but later admitted that he took the money and briefed the police and the House on Otedola’s alleged desperate bid to influence the committee’s report. As at press time yesterday, Rep Faruok was being quizzed by the police at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The statement from the presidency read: “Recent developments notwithstanding, President Jonathan’s directive to the Attorney-General of the Federation on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, as adopted by the House of Representatives, subsists and he fully expects that all those indicted in the report will be duly investigated and prosecuted if a prima facie case is established against them.”

The report which has been submitted to the Presidency ordered the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) , the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and some oil companies to refund to government’s treasury the sum of over 1tr naira as moneys illegally diverted in the subsidy regime under question.

NNPC was asked to refund the sum of N705 billion to the federation account within 90 days, being monies illegally deducted in the name of subsidy. On its part the PPPRA was asked to refund N312.2 billion which it paid itself between 2009 and 2010.

Oil marketers who drew funding without importation were asked to refund N8.7 billion while companies that refused to appear before the probe committee are to pay N41.9 billion.

The report also demanded the prosecution of the NNPC board headed by Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke and the defunct PPPRA board led by former PDP chairman Ahmadu Ali over their roles in managing fuel subsidy funds.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke said recently that  he would forward the report to the EFCC to do a thorough investigation to ensure that all loose ends are covered for proper prosecution.

In his statement yesterday, the presidential spokesman also described as baseless reports suggesting that the presidency is employing sneaking plots to rope in the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the bribe scandal with a view to getting him impeached.

Abati said neither President Goodluck Jonathan nor anyone acting on his request or order has anything to do with the scandal that has engulfed the House ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy and any attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter is entirely speculative.

The statement said: “The mischievous insinuation in today’s (Thursday, 14 June 2012) editions of the newspapers that the entire affair, in which the two key players have publicly confessed their roles, is part of a plot by President Goodluck Jonathan and the executive arm of government to unseat the leadership of the House of Representatives, is totally false and baseless.

“For the benefit of unwary members of the public who may be deceived by the political innuendoes now being woven into the subsidy probe bribe affair, President Jonathan wishes to affirm that he has absolutely no reason or desire to meddle in the affairs of the House of Representatives and its leadership.

“Neither the President nor anyone acting on his request or order has anything to do with the scandal that has sadly engulfed the House ad-hoc committee on fuel subsidy. The attempt to drag the Presidency into the matter is entirely speculative and without factual foundation.

“Against the background of its avowed commitment to the effective prosecution of the war against corruption in Nigeria, the Presidency notes with satisfaction, that given the seriousness of the scandal, the House of Representatives has already recalled its members from recess for a special session to deliberate on it tomorrow (today).

“The Presidency therefore urges the media to allow members of the House and law enforcement agencies to conduct and conclude investigations without further unhelpful distractions.”

Posted: at 15-06-2012 10:25 AM (11 years ago) | Upcoming

 

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Posted: at 25-07-2012 09:52 PM (11 years ago) | Addicted Hero