Wednesday, February 12, 2025
-2.1 C
Hamburg

Probe ‘missing N26bn in Ministry of Petroleum Resources, PTDF’, SERAP tells Tinubu

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to promptly probe allegations that over N26 billion of public funds areĀ missing, diverted or stolenĀ from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in 2021.”

These damning revelations are documented in the 2021 audited report published on Wednesday 13 November 2024 by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

SERAP said, “Anyone suspected to be responsible should face prosecution as appropriate, if there is sufficient admissible evidence, and any missing public funds should be fully recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

SERAP urged him to “use any recovered stolen funds to fund the deficit in the 2025 budget and to ease Nigeria’s crippling debt crisis.”

In the letter dated 1 February 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “There is a legitimate public interest in ensuring justice and accountability for these grave allegations. Tackling corruption in the oil sector would go a long way in addressing the budget deficit and debt problems.”

According to SERAP, “The allegations suggest a grave violation of the public trust, the Nigerian Constitution 1999 (as amended), the country’s anticorruption legislation and international anticorruption obligations.”

The letter, read in part: “Poor Nigerians have continued to pay the price for the widespread and grand corruption in the oil sector.”

“Despite the country’s enormous oil wealth, ordinary Nigerians have derived very little benefit from oil money primarily because of widespread grand corruption, andĀ the entrenched culture of impunity of perpetrators.”

“According to the 2021 annual audited report by the Auditor-General of the Federation, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in 2021 reportedly paid over N25 billion [N25,607,890,403.11] for ‘contracts without any supporting documents.'”

“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The PTDF also reportedly failed to account for over N326 million [N326,065,638.00] deposited in two banks.Ā The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing and wants it recovered and remitted to the treasury.

“The PTDFĀ reportedly failed to account for over N107 million [N107,691,733.93] being moneyĀ for ‘the supply, installation, and commissioning of Library automation system and RFID at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).'”

“The contract for the library ‘was awarded without the prior approval from the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).Ā The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The PTDF reportedly paid over N46 million [N46,974,216.43] to ‘three companies for services without evidence of execution.’ Ā ‘One of the contractors was engaged on 13thĀ April 2021 but was paid for services rendered in March 2021. All the three contractors were paid for periods they had not rendered the services to the PTDF.'”

“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The PTDF also reportedly failed to remit over N60 million [N60,355,670.03] of ‘stamp duty from the capital expenditure contracts awarded in 2019 and 2020.’ The PTDF ‘provided no reason why the money was not remitted.‘”

“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The PTDF also reportedly failed to account for over N64 million [N64,088,158.44] ‘being payment for store items not supplied.” The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The PTDF also reportedly paid over N41 million [N41,367,493.50] ‘for services not yet performed or goods not yet supplied.’ The payments were made ‘without relevant supporting documents such as invoices, receipts.'”

“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.

“The Federal MinistryĀ of Petroleum Resources reportedly spent over N137 million [N137,751,789.85] ‘from the Capital Vote for expenditures which were recurrent in nature without any approval by the National Assembly and the Minister of Finance.'”

“The Auditor-General fears the money may be missing. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury. He also wants sanctions applied ‘for gross misconduct specified in paragraph 3129 of the Financial Regulations 2009.'”

“The Ministry reportedly failed to account for over N232 million [N232,509,238.21] ‘being payments to seven companies for consultancy services for stakeholders’ engagement in the Niger Delta in January 2021.'”

“According to the Auditor-General, ‘the type of engagements and the reasons for contracting the seven companies were not stated. The venue of the engagement remains unknown. This spending of public funds appeared fictitious.'”

“The Auditor-General fears “the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The Ministry also reportedly failed to remit over N25 million [N25,516,938.00] of ‘taxes collected from payments of N137,929,394.58] made to contractors.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The Ministry also reportedly failed to account for over N43 million [N43,533,036.65] ‘being irregular payments for the replacement of broken ceiling.’ The Auditor-General fears “the money may have been diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The Ministry failed to account for over N74 million [N74,721,625.03] ‘being payments made as cash advances granted to officers between March and December 2021 without retirement.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted’, and wants it recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“The country’s wealth ought to be used solely for the benefit of the Nigerian people, and for the sake of the present and future generations.”

“These allegations can promptly be investigated and fairly prosecuted. Taking these steps would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.”

Ā “SectionĀ 13 of the Nigerian Constitution imposes clear responsibility on your government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

“Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on your government to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.”

“Under Section 16(1) of the Constitution, your government has a responsibility to ‘secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity.’

“Section 16(2) further provides that, ‘the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good.'”

“The UN Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party obligate your government to effectively prevent and investigate the plundering of the country’s wealth and hold public officials to account for any violations.”

“Specifically, article 26 of the UN convention requires your government to ensure ‘effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions’ including criminal and non-criminal sanctions, in cases of grand corruption.”

“Article 26 complements the more general requirement of article 30, paragraph 1, that sanctions must take into account the gravity of the corruption allegations.”

Hot this week

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayersā€™ Conscience ā€˜Wonā€™t Let Them Sleep Wellā€™

ABUJA ā€” Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Wike Directs Security Agencies to Monitor Almajiri Influx, Suspicious Movements in FCT

Agency Report - Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT,...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS ā€” Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

Latest

FG Transforms Nok University into Federal University of Applied Sciences

Agency Report - President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Federal...

Mixed Reactions Trail Third-Party Insurance Policy in Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger

Agency Report - Some residents of Kogi, Nasarawa and Minna...

El-Rufai Says Betrayersā€™ Conscience ā€˜Wonā€™t Let Them Sleep Wellā€™

ABUJA ā€” Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS ā€” Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further...

“Prove Your Innocence in Court,” INEC Tells Suspended Adamawa REC Ari

Agency Report - Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has advised...

NCS Bows To Pressure, Suspends Implementation of 4% FOB

The Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has suspended implementation of...

El-Rufai Dismisses Arrest Rumors, Vows to Return to Nigeria for IBB Book Launch

ABUJA ā€” Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Section

spot_imgspot_img

MORE FROM CHATNEWSTV

Dangote Refinery Cuts Diesel Price to N1,020 Per Litre

LAGOS ā€” Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has further reduced the price of diesel to N1,020 per litre, down from N1,075, marking another significant...

Baltic States Cut Energy Ties with Russia, Successfully Synchronized Electricity Grids With Continental EU Synchronous Area

TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially synchronized their electricity grids with the Continental European frequency band, marking a decisive step...

Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal meets EU Commissioner for Energy Dan JĆørgensen

Stenbock House, 8 February ā€“ Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal met with European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan JĆørgensen. During the meeting, discussions...

Estonian PM Hails Baltic States ā€œHistoric Dayā€ Disconnection From Russian Electricity Grid

TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Estoniaā€™s Prime Minister Kristen Michal on Saturday hailed the Baltic statesā€™ long-awaited disconnection from Russiaā€™s electricity grid, calling it a...

Russia Will No Longer Use Energy As A Weapon Against Us ā€” Estonian Foreign Minister

TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania disconnected from Russiaā€™s power grid on Saturday, marking a historic step toward full energy independence. The...

Baltic States Conduct Frequency Stability Tests Ahead of Grid Synchronisation

TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are conducting planned frequency stability tests as part of their transition to independent grid operations, system...

Baltic States Disconnect from Russia-Controlled Power Grid, Begin Synchronisation with Europe

TALLINN, Estonia (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania successfully disconnected their power systems from Russia's IPS/UPS grid on Saturday at 9:09 a.m., marking a...

Germany imports more LNG through North Sea terminals than Baltic Sea

Agency Report - Dusseldorf, GermanyĀ (dpa) -Ā Germany's liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals on the North Sea operated at about 65% capacity in 2024, according to...

Sweden Eyes State-Owned Firm to Drive Nuclear Expansion

STOCKHOLM (CHATNEWSTV) ā€” Sweden's government is considering establishing a state-owned investment company to accelerate its nuclear expansion, according to a new report by the...