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Non remission of 6 Years Audited Accounts: Reps C’ttee Summon NNPC GMD Kyari, 18 others
***Commences Probe Thursday
John Akubo
The House of Representatives panel on Public Accounts has summoned the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited Mele Kyari, and accounting officers of 18 subsidiaries of NNPC over allegations bothering on the nonrendition of audited accounts between 2014 and 2019.
According to the audit queries issued by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation, over N663.89 billion was not remitted by NNPC into the Federation Account in 2019.
The report further showed that while the NNPC Upstream arm of National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) claimed to transfer the sum of N1.27 trillion into the Federation Account, the audit report revealed that NNPC remitted the sum of N608.71 billion.
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The oAuGF report observed that the sum of N519,922,433,918.46 was transferred to the Federation Account by the NNPC based on transfer mandates.
To this end, oAuGF requested the “reconciliation statement for the difference of N88,787,862,853.96 between AGF’s figure of N608,710,296,772.42 and NNPC’s figure per transfer mandate of N519,922,433,918.46.”
The Audit report further observed that 107,239,436.00 barrels of crude oil were lifted as domestic crude, while the allocation of crude oil to refineries for a billing date of 9th January to 29th May 2019 was 2,764,267.00 bbls valued at N55,891,009,960.63.”
It stated further that “Information on Sale of unutilized crude oil by Refineries for 2019 was not provided, and Information on crude oil allocations from 30th May to 31st December 2019 was not provided for scrutiny.
While alleging possible diversion of domestic crude, diversion of sale of unutilized crude as well as possible loss of Federation Account revenue, the report said the management of the NNPC failed to respond to the audit query.
Auditor General also alleged that NNPC spent US$6.410 million, (=N1.955 trillion at N305/US$1) to fund Joint Venture Cash Calls (JVCC) and other federally funded upstream projects such as Gas Infrastructure Development, Brass LNG, Crude Oil Pre-Export Inspection Agency Expenses, Frontier Exploration Services, EGTL Operating Expenses, and NESS Fee and another N55.157 billion on Pipeline Security and Maintenance without first paying the money into the Federation Account.
The invitation to the NNPC Group Managing Director was signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Hon. Oluwole Oke via a letter titled: ‘Re-Consideration of Auditor General of the Federation annual report for 2019 financial year,” with Reference No: HR/PAC/SCO5/9NASS/QUE.40/43 was dated 1st April 2022.
“I refer to your appearance before this Committee on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, on the above subject matter and the Committee’s resolution to request that you come along to the next session with the Chief Accounting Officers of all NNPC Subsidiaries.
“A new date has been fixed for your appearance. You are to cause an appearance before the Committee on Thursday 7th April 2022 at 11:00 am in Meeting Room 446, House of Representatives New Building.
“This is to inform you that the Committee does not allow representation, you are to appear in person to defend your accounts laid before the Parliament.
“You are to come along with Officers who are familiar with the issues at stake and may assist you to provide answers to any question that could arise during the Session,” the letter read in part.
Some of the NNPC subsidiaries are; Nigeria Petroleum Development Corporation Limited; Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemical Company; Pipeline & Products Marketing Company Limited; Duke Oil Company Inc.; West Africa Gas Limited; Nidas Marine Limited Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG); Hayson (Nigeria) Limited and Nigeria Gas Company.
A helicopter carrying President Ebrahim Raisi yencountered a “hard landing” on Sunday.
According to report, the incident took place near Jolfa, a city situated on the border with Azerbaijan, within Iran’s East Azerbaijan province, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of Tehran.
However, details regarding the incident were not disclosed.
The Associated Press noted uncertainty regarding whether bh Raisi was onboard the helicopter during the incident.
Despite rescue efforts, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and wind, have hindered access to the site, according to state TV.
Before the helicopter incident, President Ebrahim Raisi had been in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in the inauguration of a dam alongside Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
This dam marks the third joint construction project between the two nations on the Aras River.
Despite Iran’s diverse helicopter fleet, obtaining parts is hindered by international sanctions, with much of its military air fleet dating back to pre-1979 Islamic Revolution era.
Raisi, aged 63, is known for his hard-line stance and previously served as the country’s judiciary leader.
Considered a protégé of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some analysts speculate that Raisi could succeed the 85-year-old leader in the event of his resignation or demise.
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.The Democratic Republic of Congo’s military prevented an attempted coup on Sunday near President Felix Tshisekedi’s offices in Kinshasa, as reported by an army spokesperson.
According to him, the plot, involving both foreigners and Congolese citizens, unfolded in the early hours outside the residence of Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe in the Gombe district, close to the president’s offices at the Palais de la Nation.
General Sylvain Ekenge announced on national television that the defence and security forces had successfully thwarted the coup attempt.
He said “An attempted coup d’etat has been stopped by the defence and security forces. The foreigners and Congolese…including their leader” would “all no longer cause any harm”.
Shots were heard near the Palais de la Nation during the attempted coup, as confirmed by various sources.
General Ekenge didn’t elaborate further on the incident, and AFP’s attempts to get additional information from official sources remain unanswered.
However by late morning, the city appeared calm.
Early social media reports suggested an armed attack on Kamerhe’s residence, with some assailants heading towards the Palais de la Nation.
“This morning, there was an armed attack at the residence of the economy minister,” wrote Japan’s ambassador Hidetoshi Ogawa on X.
He stated that Kamerhe “was not harmed, but two policemen and an assailant were killed according to sources.”
France’s ambassador reported hearing automatic weapons fire in the area and advised French nationals to steer clear of the location.
Videos circulating on social media depicted individuals in military attire at the Palais de la Nation, waving flags of Zaire, the former name of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) during the regime of dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, who was ousted in 1997.
Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has dismissed all transition committee chairmen in the state’s 21 local government areas.
This decision was detailed in a letter titled “Expiration of Tenure and Handover to Heads of Local Government Administrations (HLGAs),” dated May 17, 2024, and signed by Collins Nwabunwanne, the state Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Community Affairs.
According to the letter, the directive will be effective starting Monday, May 20, 2024.
The letter read, “Following the expiration of your tenure as Transition Committee Chairman, you are hereby directed to handover the affairs of your Local Government Council to the Head of Local Government Administration (HLGA), in your respective Local Government Councils.
“This directive takes effect from Monday, 20th day of May, 2024. Thank you for your service to the state. All replies to be addressed to the Honourable Commissioner.”
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