Dr. Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday set up a committee to verify and reconcile the findings of the Technical Committee which reviewed subsidy claims and payment in 2011.
The 15-man committee is headed by Access Bank Managing Director Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who also headed the Technical Committee, which the Federal Ministry of Finance set up.
Aig-Imoukhuede last month submitted the Technical Committee’s report, which is to be reviewed.
The Federal Government paid N2.19trillion to subsidise the petrol consumed by Nigerians last year.
Finance Minister Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is also the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, said the government paid the money in two tranches.
She told the Senator Magnus Abe-led Joint Committee of the Senate on Monday that the government paid oil marketers N1.7trillion as at December, last year. This is in addition to paying N451 billion in arrears this year.
She said she did not know exactly how much will be paid as subsidy this year, adding that it is the responsibility of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
The Committee, which has one week to do its job, was set up to ensure that no organisation found culpable, is spared, according to presidential spokesman Reuben Abati, in a statement yesterday.
The statement reads:
“In a further move towards the fulfillment of his pledge to Nigerians that no person or organisation guilty of fuel subsidy fraud or corruption will escape justice, President Goodluck Jonathan today (yesterday) established a Committee to verify and reconcile the findings of the Technical Committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Finance to conduct a detailed review of all subsidy claims and payments made in 2011.
“President Jonathan has directed the 15-member committee headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to begin work immediately and conclude its assignment by 1700 hours on Friday, July 13, 2012 as a prelude to immediate action on all identified cases of fraud.
“On receiving the Verification and Reconciliation Committee’s report, President Jonathan will order whatever action he deems necessary to ensure justice and the full recovery of all fuel subsidy funds that may have been illegally paid.”
The committee is to:
• further verify and reconcile all claims made in the report of the Technical Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments;
• properly identify all cases of overpayment and/or irregular payment;
•accurately identify all likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigation; and
• review any other pertinent issues that may arise from its work and make appropriate recommendations.
Other members of the committee are: Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (DG Debt Management Office (DMO), Mr. Bernard Otti (GED Finance & Accounts, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mrs. Oyinye Ahuchogu Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mrs. Sola David-Borha (MD Stanbic/IBTC, representing the banking community), Mr. Mike Osatuyi (National Secretary, IPMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore, Mr. Jonah Otunla (Accountant-General of the Federation), Mr. Bright Okogwu (DG, Budget Office), Mr. Reginald Stanley (Executive Secretary, PPPRA), Mrs. Aisha Waziri-Umar and Mr. Jalal Arabi.The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the State Security Service will also be represented on the Committee.
Also yesterday, Attorney General of the Federation Mohammed Adoke said indicted fuel marketers be prosecuted.
He spoke in Abuja through his counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN). The minister said the report of the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy is useful and the government will act on it.
He, however, explained that the government can only do so after relevant agencies have considered the facts contained in the report.
Awomolo explained that the office of the AGF will still work on the report before prosecuting anybody indicted, adding that “the House Committee is just a fact-finding one”.
“The fundamental rule of law is that a report of any fact-finding committee is not conclusive of the commission of a crime; hence, the honourable attorney general in his counter affidavit dated 3rd of July, 2012, deposed to by Ayotunde Ogunleye of counsel, stated clearly that:
*The 3rd respondent (AGF) was not part of the exercise of the legislative powers but as the chief law officer to the government of the federation and in response to public reactions to the publication of the report and resolution of the 1st and 2nd respondents made a public statement.
• The public statement is to the effect that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is the chief executive officer of the federation and the commander- in-chief of the armed forces of the federation will consider the report and resolution and will take appropriate action within the law
•The report of the committee, which is a fact-finding committee, will be studied and given to relevant agencies of government but will not prosecute or take legal action against person or persons indicted by the report.”
Awomolo added: “The Attorney General stands by the principle of rule of law, which is a strong pillar upon which this government operates and that means that where parties have turned their case to a court of law, parties will not take laws into their hands but stay action till the final determination of the case by the court.
“The order of the court in the case of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited against the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and 5 ors, binds parties to the suit only and not general marketers as erroneously reported in the newspapers,” he said.
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