Skip to main content

N10b Cash On Jet: Reps Secure Travel Logs Of Minister’s Plane

diezani-allison-madueke1

Madueke suspends trip to prepare defence
The travel logs of the jet chartered by Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke are now in possession of members of the House of Representatives as they prepare to launch their probe of the N10 billion allegedly spent by her on the plane.

The logs, The Nation authoritatively gathered, cover the minister’s trips to China, South Africa, United States and United Arab Emirates.

There are also indications that the House may demand movement logs of the Challenger jet from the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA); and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

One of the parastatals under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources has been fingered in the hiring and payment for the jet.

Upset by the media attention generated by what many Nigerians see as waste of public funds, the minister has suspended a foreign trip with President Goodluck Jonathan to prepare her defence for the House of Representatives.

Investigations in Abuja showed that some representatives have obtained travel logs of the minister which they intend to present to the Public Accounts Committee for verification from FAAN, NAMA and NCAA.

A reliable source said the fact-sheet available to some members indicated that the average cost of a trip on the jet was about $300,000.

It was also learnt that the parastatatal in question maintains the jet with $500,000 per month.

The source said: “This probe is a result of painstaking efforts by some members in the last one year.
Some of these members, including those from PDP in the House, have secured the travel logs of the minister to and from Nigeria.

“For instance, she had been to China, South Africa, United States, the UK and the United Arab Emirates with the jet. At a point, the jet was relocated to Ghana when controversy arose on the jet in August last year.

“Even if FAAN, NAMA and NCAA decide not to release the records of movement of the Challenger Jet, these countries will oblige the House of Representatives. Also, the leasing company is foreign owned, it cannot hide the records if it wants to remain in business.”

Another source said: “We have identified some issues for Diezani as follows:
• What informed the hiring of the jet?
• Why will the parastatal be paying for the jet?
• Why will the minister travel in a private jet while on the delegation of the president to some countries?
• Assuming that the hiring of the jet was due to exigencies, what informed the extension of the privilege to members of her family as was the case during the 2013 Easter Break trip to Dubai in UAE?

“We are not after the person of the minister but we want probity in government. We won’t allow a serving public officer use the public treasury for personal purpose.

“And what we are doing is not new because a group, Crusaders for Good Governance (CGG), sent a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the same issue last year.”
But the probe has caused anxiety in the presidency following recurring scandals trailing cabinet members.

A source in government said: “The presidency is worried that the series of probes targeted at ministers might be attempts to bring down the government by some forces.

“We are waiting for the investigative process and how it will go. The government will certainly pay keen interest on the probe.”

Mrs. Alison-Madueke has already suspended an overseas trip with President Jonathan to her enable prepare her defence for the House of Representatives.

A source close to her said: “The minister is just upset with the allegation, she decided to cancel her schedule abroad to clear her image. She believes the allegations are too grave to ignore.
“She is already preparing her defence; she has devoted the weekend to do this. The minister has told everyone around her that there is a total misconception and misplacement of facts and purely an act of political blackmail against this administration

“By the time she is through with the facts and figures, Nigerians will know the truth. She was seriously upset that some people are personalizsing the issue. She said the figures they are quoting were exaggerated; when the Minister opens up, it will be revealing too.”

NATION

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Over Here Guys!; Mosanto Develops Revolutionary New Penis-Enlarging Corn Crop. (Must Read)

The multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation, Monsanto, announced this morning, that they had genetically engineered a modified corn crop, designed to help men have larger penises and longer-lasting erections. The company’s scientists used genes from a number of plants to create this surprising species of transgenic corn, described as “more efficient than any penis-enlarging pill”. They notably used genetic material from a plant native to Indonesia and Malaysia, called  Eurycoma Longifolia  or  Tongkat Ali , which is known for its ability to raise testosterone levels. They also used genes from watermelon, as its rind is a good natural source of citrulline, a dietary precursor which causes the penis to fill up nitric oxide. This relaxes the smooth muscle in blood vessels and erectile organs, augmenting the penis’ capacity for enlargement during erection. “Men will no longer have to pay hundreds of dollars to have larger penises”  says Dr. Fi
47 comments
Read more

Subscription Fee Increase! FRN v. Multichoice: CPC Sets Up Complaint Desk for DSTV Subscribers

The Consumer Protection Council (CPC) is setting up a special channel for receiving complaints from DSTV and GOTV subscribers who have been unable to renew their subscription at their bouquet prevailing price as at July 31, 2018. The CPC noted that the above measure become necessary following Multichoice’s deliberate disobedience of court order restraining them from increasing their subscription rate or prices, pending the determination of an application before the court. In a statement issued by the DG of CPC Mr. Babatunde Irukera, consumers experiencing the above challenges are advised to send an email to  multichoicecompliance@cpc.gov.ng , stating relevant information, including smart card number, name, telephone number, date and time of failed attempt to pay, supporting same with relevant evidence such as a screenshot or document (where necessary). The statement reads: “It has come to the attention of the Consumer Protection Council that customers of MultiChoice N
Post a Comment
Read more

For the love of woman! Man chops off his friend’s hand

A 22-year-old man, Yusuf Hassan, has been apprehended for chopping off the hand of his friend, Abubakar Umar, with a machete, during a fight over one Habiba, on Wednesday, in Dakwa, Abuja. Dailytrust quoted Umar as saying Habiba had relocated with her parents from Kaduna, some months ago, and that before they could get a room to rent, he gave his room to them as a temporary shelter and relocated to his friend’s room. “My friend, Yusuf, started developing interest in the lady. However he suspected me of also having same feeling for her, which is not true. . That was how I started having problem with him to the extent that he once warned me that it could be the reason for him to terminate my life. The family got another place and I eventually returned to my room,” he added. . However, on Wednesday, Yusuf attacked Umar with a machete, but as he (Umar) attempted to dodge it, it hit his hand and cut it off. The Zuba Divisional Police Officer, CSP Fodio Sani, confirmed the incid
Post a Comment
Read more