‘Missing’ $20bn: Nigerian Reps issue fresh ultimatum to Okonjo-Iweala

Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

The House of Representatives has for the second time on Wednesday asked the Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to submit the full version of the forensic audit report on the alleged missing Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation $20bn to it.

The House gave the first directive on Thursday last week, following a motion moved by its Minority Leader,   Femi Gbajabiamila.

On Wednesday (yesterday), the House again asked the minister for the report after Gbajabiamila complained that almost one week following the first resolution, Okonjo-Iweala had not responded.

The House endorsed his submission and directed the minister a second time to comply.

An auditing firm, PriceWater House Coopers, had carried out the forensic investigation on behalf of the Federal Government.

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, told reporters shortly after the House rose that the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation only presented a “highly-condensed version” of the report to the public.

He recalled that in the condensed version, the NNPC was directed to remit a “minimum of $1.4bn into the Federation Account.”

The lawmaker said that, as the committee overseeing public accounts, PAC was duty-bound to ensure that the minister produced the report.

He ordered Okonjo-Iweala to submit the report not later than one week from Wednesday (yesterday).

...Punch