The House of Representatives yesterday
ended debate of its Ad-hoc Committee on
fuel subsidy report, ordering the
prosecution of Akintola Williams Deloitte and
Olusola Adekanye audit firms. The two
companies were indicted for their alleged
complicity in the auditing of fuel subsidy
regime.
The House formally adopted the panel’s
recommendations which include refund of
over N1trillion and sanctions for indicted
companies and individuals.
The committee led by Hon. Farouk Lawan
submitted its report last Wednesday.
Kicking off debate on the report which
started on Tuesday, the House asked the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to prosecute the formost accounting
firms for their alleged professional
negligence.
The two companies sacked last week by the
Federal Government were in charge of
inspection of vessels of imported petroleum
products which subsidy was paid on.
Reprieve, however, came the way of former
Accountant-General of the Federation and
incumbent Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji
Ibrahim Dankwambo, as the lawmakers
exonerated his office of blame in the
controversial payment of N999million 128
times within 24 hours in 2009.
They urged the EFCC to investigate the
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Agency(PPPRA)over the payments. The
commencement of yesterday’s debate was
preceded by a drama. Hon Robertson Uwak
(Oron PDP) had soon after the Deputy
Speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha who presided
over the session announced the business of
the day, said that his constituents had been
bombarding him with calls demanding that
the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Deziani
Alison-Madueke should resign. The comment
attracted mixed reactions from the
lawmakers.
Deputy Leader Leo Ogor tried to calm the
situation by saying that Uwak did not follow
due process in the calls for the minister’s
resignation. He had barely finished making
his observation when shouts from the
lawmakers rent the air.
The Deputy Speaker moved to restore order
in the House, but there were shouts of no,
no. Uwak later told newsmen that there was
no justification for not recommending the
resignation of the minister after the
revelations that showed the stench in her
ministry.
Back to the main issue .Hon Betty Apiafi said
that it was not enough to just relieve the
accounting firms of their services as was
done by the government. She insisted that
they should be prosecuted. Hon Femi
Gbajabiamila supported that the
recommendation for the blacklisting of the
two firms in handling assignments for the
Ministry of Petroleum Resources.Hons
Emmanuel Jime and Fort Dike also backed
the call. On the payment of N999million, the
legislators urged the EFCC to carry out
further investigation of PPPRA and other
agencies involved.
On the extra-budgetary expenditure by the
Executive, the lawmakers voted for the
enactment of an Act criminalising such
expenditure. They argued that it violates the
law of the land. Speaking on the report,
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Lawan,
restated that the panel was fair to all the
parties involved. He said that those indicted
in the report would take up the gauntlet
against it and members of the House.
He appealed to Nigerians to fight for the
protection of truth and sanity. On claims that
Mrs. Alison-Madueke was being shielded by
the House, Committee Chairman on Media
and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed,
dismissed it as untrue. He said the
recommendation that the management of
NNPC should be overhauled had addressed
the issue. According to him the minister is
the chairman of the board of NNPC and
therefore, it was wrong to insinuate that
she was exenorated. He said the objective of
the report was not to witch-hunt anybody,
but to state facts as they are.
He denied that the House is playing
anybody’s script

Bla bla bla.Is this supposed to be in the business sectionModerators bundle this eskimo to political section!