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Senate panel uncovers N34 billion fixed Deposit Account linked to PEF without remitting interest

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Disagreement rocks Senate Panel on Army over Lopsided Army Recruitment

 

The senate panel Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) has uncovered alleged N34b fixed deposited account traced to Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) Management without remitting interest of N182 million.
The Agency only remitted N82 million while withholding N100 miion from the interest of N34 billion in various banks.
The discovery by  Committee chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide was based on 2016 Auditor General’s report which is currently considered by the Committee.
However, the Management of Petroleum Equalization Fund (PEF) failed to show up before the Committee which was scheduled for Wednesday last week yet there was no any letter to Justify their absence at the Investigative hearing.
The new Management of Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission is expected to respond to the allegation since Federal government has scrapped Petroleum Equalisation Fund following the signing of Petroleum Industrial Act
The query reads, “At  the  Petroleum  Equalization  Fund  (Management)  Board,  it  was  revealed  that  in 2015,  the  Board  placed  the  sum  of  N34,003,057,534.22  (Thirty-four  billion,  three  million, fifty-seven  thousand,  five  hundred  and  thirty-four  naira,  twenty-two  kobo)  in  fixed deposit  accounts  in  various  banks  which  yielded  interest  in  the  sum  of  N182,400,810.74 (One  hundred  and  eighty-two  million,  four  hundred  thousand,  eight  hundred  and  ten naira,  seventy-four  kobo).
“However, the  Board  remitted  only  the  sum  of N82,263,824.31  (Eighty-two  million,  two  hundred  and  sixty-three  thousand,  eight hundred  and  twenty-four  naira,  thirty-one  kobo)  to  the  Consolidated  Revenue  Fund, leaving  a  balance  of  N100,136,986.43  (One  hundred  million,  one  hundred  and  thirty-six thousand,  nine hundred and eighty-six  naira,  forty-three kobo)  unaccounted for.
“This  act  is  a  contravention  of  the  provision  of  Financial  Regulation  222  which stipulates  that  “Interest  earned  on  bank  accounts  must  be  properly  classified  to  the appropriate  revenue head  of  Accounts and paid to the Consolidated Revenue Fund”.
“The  Executive  Secretary  should  remit  the  outstanding  interest  yield  of N100,136,986.43  immediately  to  the  Consolidated  Revenue  Fund  and  furnish  evidence of  remittance  for  my  verification.
“Failure to  comply  should attract  appropriate  sanctions in  line  with  Financial  Regulation  3112  which  stipulates  that  “where  an  officer  fails  to  give satisfactory  reply  to  an  audit  query  within  7  days  for  his  failure  to  account  for government  revenue,  such  officer  shall  be  surcharged  for  the  full  amount  involved  and such  officer  handed  over  to  either  the  Economic  and  Financial  Crimes  Commission (EFCC)  or  Independent  Corrupt  Practices  and  Other  Related  Offences  Commission (ICPC).”

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DPRP Slashes PMS to ₦1,165/Litre, Diesel to ₦1,570/Litre

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has announced a reduction in the ex-depot prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel).

A company statement on Wednesday has it that the price reduction, which is part of reaffirmation of the company’s commitment to providing affordable, high-quality petroleum products to the Nigerian market is effective Thursday 6th of August, 2026.

Under the new pricing structure, the refinery has reduced the ex-depot price of PMS to N1,165 per litre, down from N1,215 per litre, representing a reduction of N50 per litre. Similarly, the ex-depot price of Diesel has been reduced to N1,570 per litre from N1,650 per litre, amounting to a decrease of N80 per litre.

ALSO READ: NLNG: How Cooking Gas Offtakers Greed Fuel Scarcity, High Prices

The price review reflects Dangote Refinery’s ongoing efforts to enhance energy affordability, improve access to refined petroleum products, and support economic activities across Nigeria. The refinery remains committed to ensuring stable supply while leveraging operational efficiencies to deliver value to consumers, businesses, and stakeholders.

As Africa’s largest refinery, Dangote Petroleum Refinery continues to play a pivotal role in strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, reducing reliance on imports, and supporting the nation’s economic development through the supply of world-class petroleum products.

The company reaffirmed its dedication to contributing to the growth of the Nigerian economy and passing on the benefits of improved operational efficiencies to consumers whenever market conditions permit.

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Wrong-Way Crane Leaves Three Dead, Three Injured in Ogun Auto Crash

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Woman Dies After Setting Self Ablaze Over N70,000 Loan In Ogun

Three people have lost their lives, while three others sustained varying degrees of injuries following a tragic road accident involving a crane and a truck along the Sagamu-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.

The fatal crash occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday near Babcock Junction in Ikenne Local Government Area.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, said the accident involved a white Mercedes-Benz truck with registration number LG 59 BLF and a yellow crane without a registration number.

SEE ALSO: Gas Explosion Kills 16 In Fatal Ogun Auto Crash

According to Akinbiyi, preliminary investigations showed that the crane was travelling against traffic at excessive speed when it collided head-on with the oncoming truck.

He disclosed that six people—three males and three females—were involved in the crash.

“A total of three persons, comprising two males and one female, lost their lives, while three male victims sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Akinbiyi said.

He added that emergency responders from TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force, and a rescue team known as “Papa Oscar” swiftly arrived at the scene to rescue victims and manage the situation.

The injured victims were taken to the Babcock University Teaching Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) morgue in Sagamu.

To ease traffic flow, authorities diverted vehicles from Delabo Junction to the second carriageway as efforts continued to evacuate the damaged vehicles from the highway.

Akinbiyi commiserated with the families of the deceased and cautioned motorists against dangerous traffic violations.

“Motorists should avoid route violation and driving against traffic, considering the grave consequences associated with such dangerous acts,” he said.

 

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Businessman Alleges Paying PFIPC DG ₦400m To Secure Gov’t Contract

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A businessman, Gbenga Collins, has told the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee investigating the Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) that he paid ₦400 million to the council’s embattled Director-General, Adeniyi Adeyemi, to facilitate the award of a government contract.

Collins made the allegation on Wednesday while testifying before the committee probing the establishment and operations of the controversial council.

According to the businessman, he travelled to Abuja where he was officially received by Adeyemi in what he described as an atmosphere befitting the head of a government agency, a development that convinced him the council was legitimate.

SEE ALSO: PFIPCgate: Wike Fires Back at Opposition Over Calls to Sack Gbajabiamila

He told lawmakers that Adeyemi later handed him a contract award letter, the scope of work, and an agreement authorising his company to execute the renovation and furnishing of the Director-General’s official residence.

“He gave me a contract award letter, the scope of work and, at the same time, the agreement with my company to execute that refurbishment project and asked me to pay the sum of ₦400 million for the facilitation of that project to show my strength that I would be able to handle it and that it would also fast-track the mobilisation for the contract,” Collins told the committee.

Chairman of the ad hoc committee, Yusuf Gagdi, disclosed that Adeyemi’s continued absence from the hearings was because he is currently in police custody and is also being investigated by anti-graft agencies.

Gagdi further revealed that the committee intends to meet with Adeyemi discreetly as part of its ongoing investigation.

As part of the probe, the committee also summoned the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) over the alleged use of official Federal Government number plates on vehicles linked to the disputed council.

The House panel is investigating allegations that the PFIPC operated without lawful authority despite being captured in the 2026 Appropriation Act.

The probe followed allegations by Adeyemi that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, demanded 48 per cent of the council’s proposed ₦27.3 billion take-off grant. Adeyemi also alleged that the Chief of Staff received ₦400 million through a proxy and later requested an additional ₦200 million to facilitate presidential approvals.

Gbajabiamila has denied all the allegations, maintaining that he has no personal, official or professional relationship with Adeyemi.

He also rejected claims that he demanded or received money, interfered with investigations, or had any connection to allegations surrounding the death of Babatunde Tanimola or an alleged assassination attempt on Adeyemi.

Following the allegations, President Bola Tinubu directed the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the matter.

The House of Representatives subsequently constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the establishment of the PFIPC, how it was included in the 2026 Appropriation Act, and the alleged allocation of about ₦1.3 billion to the council.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Tanimu Yakubu, had earlier informed the committee that none of the funds appropriated for the PFIPC had been released or spent because the statutory conditions required for their disbursement and utilisation were never met.

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