Few months after her counterpart in the health ministry was indicted for graft, it has been revealed that the Minister of Transportation, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, withdrew N30. 9 billion between December 26 and 31, 2007.

Within that period — Friday 26 to Tuesday 31 December, 2007 — the minister was said to have withdrawn the amount nine times, which enabled the ministry to return to the government treasury N5. 5 billion out of N44.4 billion collected in 2007.

On the 31st of December alone, three different withdrawals were made, which involved N9.6 billion, N9.8 billion and N6.9 billion, totalling N26.3 billion. Other withdrawals were said to have been made between December 26 and 30.

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This, according to Senator Patricia Akwashiki, a member of the AdHoc Committee investigating the transportation sector, was in flagrant disobedience to the directives from President Umaru Yar’Adua who ordered that all unspent money as at the end of December be returned to the treasury.

Mrs. Allison Madueke was appearing before the committee to answer questions on the performance of the ministry and how budgetary allocations to the ministry and its parastatal agencies were spent.Asking the minister questions during the probe based on the documents presented by the ministry, Senator Akwashiki said: “I can see nine withdrawals from 26 December to 31st, you paid out N30.9 billion. It is unbelievable for you to make that type of payment.

“I think everybody is clear about the instruction of the President. I know that we returned our own money in the National Assembly to consolidated account that December. So, Madam, withdrawing N30.9 billion was wrong. Because I know that you people are making payment up till March. I put it to you that you are making payment up till March.

“Here they are warehousing N30.9 billion, I don’t think that was the instruction given to them by the President.” In her response, the minister said the money was withdrawn because the ministry was going through a complete change in the processes and procedures up till the end of 2007 and that the money was meant for the warehouse which was normal for the intensive ministries, like transport.

“As you know, we are going through a complete change in the actual processes and procedure up till the end of last year. It was normal to have a warehouse of funds for capital intensive ministry.

“At that time, we were going through a complete change in the psychology and understanding of how we are going to move forward. As we have been directed that we are no longer going to warehouse fund, we have also approved a number of projects that have gone through due process certification up till that time. Those withdrawals are to try and ensure that those projects are implemented.

“Distinguished senator, we did not take out money and warehouse, we had a letter from the Accountant General of the Federation which clearly stated that all projects that have been certified by Due Process by 31st of December, we can actually access this fund up till 31st of March.”

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The minister had earlier created a scene while taking the oath before the panel when she stated that the “evidence I shall give shall be the truth, nothing but the truth, to the best of my knowledge.”

The panel also questioned the disparity in the budgetary allocation to the Nigerian Railway Corporation between 1999 and 2007 as presented to the panel by the Auditor General of the Federation and the minister.

While the Auditor General submitted N40 billion, the minister said it was N25. 48 billion. Meanwhile, a former Minister of Aviation, Dr. Babalola Borisade, may have it tough with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following his alleged indictment by a report on the aviation intervention funds currently being investigated by the Senate.

Borisade is expected to face the Senate probe panel on the N19.6 billion fund next week, whereas reports said the EFCC was on the trail of the former minister and others found culpable of misappropriation of the fund

The commission had in a most dramatic manner arrested an Austrian, Mr. Georg Eder, in the Senate on Wednesday on account of his involvement in N6.5 billion Safe Tower project scandal which also involved some top officials of the aviation ministry.

Borisade was allegedly indicted in the report by the Presidential Committee on Safe Tower project led by the National Security Adviser, Major General Sarki Muktar, as he was asked to explain why the N6.5 billion loan from a bank was used for the project contrary to the directive earlier given by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

 

 

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