House Of Reps Orders Probe Of Alison-Madueke For Allegedly Spending N10 Billion On Private Jet

The House of Representatives has ordered an
investigation into an alleged squandering of billions
of naira of government funds by petroleum
minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on the
maintenance of a private jet.
The public accounts committee of the House is to
examine whether Mrs. Alison-Madueke, one of the
most controversial members of President
Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet, has spent N10 billion
of state funds in the last two years to charter,
operate and maintain a jet for her personal use.
The lawmaker who tabled the motion for approval,
Samuel Adejare, representing Lagos State, said the
allegation was based on "reliable evidence"
indicating that Mrs. Alison-Madueke has
committed about 500,000 Euros (N130 million
naira) monthly to maintain the aircraft, solely for
her personal needs and those of her immediate
family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations prove
that the financing for the Challenger 850 aircraft
was drawn from government funds.
He said the expenditure would be only "a tip of the
iceberg" as several other billions of naira may
have been frittered on flying the jet all over the
world "obviously for the leisure" of the minister
and her immediate family.
"This colossal waste is currently estimated at N10
billion which include the payment of allowances to
the crew for the trips, hanger parking and rent
based on the lease agreement," Mr. Adejare said.
"If government could be bankrolling this waste in
the face of ever dwindling public resources,…it
amounts to a misplacement of priority, impudence
and breach of public trust, an action that offends
the Fiscal Responsibility Act and all other Laws on
fiscal discipline in Nigeria."
If confirmed by the House, the spending will only
fall amongst some of the government's most
outlandish expenditure, for a nation with an
overwhelming unemployment rate, and dwindling
revenues.
It would however be hardly surprising for a
minister indicted of maladministration by several
reports. Mrs. Alison-Madueke is currently at the
centre of an allegation of a missing $20 billion oil
proceeds raised by suspended governor of the
Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi.
Mr. Jonathan has brushed aside several calls for
Mrs. Alison-Madueke's removal.
The motion in the House of Representatives on
Thursday, was approved with an overwhelming
voice vote.
The sole opposition to the resolution, Friday Itulah,
who represents Edo State, was disallowed by the
speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, who explained that the
House does not permit debates on such motions
until after an investigation has been carried out.
The committee on public finance is to investigate
the allegation and present its findings to the house
within two weeks.