Orders release of audit report on ‘missing $20bn’
SHOCKING News: The Main Reason Why Jonathan Ordered Immediate Release Of NNPC Audit Report
Following allegations of last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into public service by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, the President has challenged the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to probe his decisions when he eventually gets into power by May 29.
This is coming as the President ordered the release of the report of the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) conducted by Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) on the alleged missing $20 billion oil funds.
Jonathan’s Special Adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, who briefed State House Correspondent yesterday, said the the government regretted the allegations made by the APC spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, insisting that Jonathan’s tenure ends on May 29 and as such would not shirk in its responsibilities of providing good governance to the country.
He said “Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.
“In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.
As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.
We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation.”
He however promised not to create any problem for the incoming administration as he stated “President Jonathan will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a cessation of governance.”
He continued “The Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.
“President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.”
Reacting to the Buhari’s resolve to revisit the issue of the missing $20 billion oil funds which the government has consistently denied, Jonathan said the issue had been laid to rest with the submission of the reports forensic audit of the NNPC by the PWC.
According to him “President Jonathan is also deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.
To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.”
Although the release of the forensic audit is being ordered belatedly by the President, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, had last week explained that no money was missing.
She insisted that the PWC forensic report only revealed that certain $1.48 billion was transferred from the NNPC to its subsidiary, the NPDC, and that she had directed that the money be paid into government coffers. President
