CACOL Flays Petroleum Minister Over Her Refusal To Honour Reps’ Letter
The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has censured the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke over her refusal to respond to the letter of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts demanding information on the controversial Challenger 850 aircraft chartered for her use.
The Committee was given the specific mandate to probe the alleged N10bn expenses the minister incurred in the last three years, flying inChallenger 850. However, in the course of preliminary findings, the committee got additional information that Alison-Madueke chartered other jets, including a Global Express XRS.
In the letter written by the committee Chairman, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, on March 26, Alison-Madueke was requested to provide information on the sources of funding and to cite the law that empowers a minister to fly in chartered jets. She was given one week to respond to the questions. However, as of yesterday, there was no response from her and a similar set of questions sent to the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu was not responded to.
Reacting to the development, the Executive Chairman of the Coalition, Comrade Debo Adeniran decried the minister’s display of impunity and disregard forconstituted institution.
He said, “The level of impunity displayed by some members of President Goodluck Jonathan’s cabinet is uncalled for. The Petroleum Minister’s refusal to respond or appear before the house committee is highly condemnable. It has been alleged that there is a clique of the ‘untouchables’ in Jonathan’s cabinet to which Mrs. Madueke belongs. We have said it many times that the minister may be working for the President, hence her audacity to shun the invitation of the reps. Does it mean the minister is bigger than the whole of Nigeria? No one is above the law in a true democracy. This is contempt against the elected representatives that have the power of oversight on the executive arm, and by extension, the Nigerian citizenry as a whole.
It has also been alleged that the NNPC fired its Executive Director, Legal Services, one Mr. Tony Maduchi, who was said to be in a position to avail the House committee of useful information on the investigation. Does it not sound more like a cover up? Many well-meaning Nigerians have called for the sack of the said minister but it is unfortunate she’s still overseeing the rot in the petroleum sector.
The anti-corruption crusader however urged the legislators to issue warrant of arrest against Mrs. Alison-Madueke and the NNPC MD, Mr. Andrew Yakubu.
“The minister and the NNPC MD must come before the committee to explain their roles in the various allegations to all Nigerians. The lawmakers should use their constitutional powers to compel them to appear before them. Unless this issue is addressed with all seriousness, this probe may go the way of other probes.”
