AMEBO BUSSINESS CENTRE: Reps reactivate probe of N10bn Chartered jets

Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Reps reactivate probe of N10bn Chartered jets

In spite of the court case instituted against the House of Representatives by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke to stop the House Committee on Public Accounts from probing the alleged N10 billion expenses on Chartered jets, the committee seems to be forging ahead with the investigation.
To this end, the Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and its Managing Director, Mr Haruna Momoh to appear before it.
This aligns with the declaration of the Speaker the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal that the probe is not dead.
The House suspended the investigation earlier meant to commence on April 28 before of the subsisting case in court.
In a memo dated April 30 by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee,Honourable Solomon Adeola Olamilekan and addressed to the Managing Director of the PPMC the committee gave the organization and its boss a week to submit in a written form all what they knew about the charter of the 850 Challenger Aircraft.

The committee said it was issuing the memo because of new information from Vistaget international Limited, one of the companies involved in the transactions.
The memo reads: “It was observed that you and PPMC played a Central role in the charter of the 850 challenger Aircraft,you are therefore requested to submit a memorandum on your involvement and that of the PPMC in the said transaction.”
The committee in the memo requested for the following:
“Details of the Financial transaction on the amount paid by NNPC/PPMC to Vistajel international Ltd for the Charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircrafts and other related Aircrafts such as the OE-LXR GLOBAL EXPRESS XRS from January 2012 till date.
“Details of any Financial liabilities that may be currently outstanding on the Charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircraft and other related Aircrafts used by the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources,Mrs Allison-Madueke for both national and international trips.
“Copies of the agreement (if any) between NNPC/PPMC and Vistajet International LtD over the Charter and maintenance of the 850 Challenger Aircrafts 0E-LXR GLOBAL EXPRESS XRS and other related aircrafts by the Minister.
“The manifest in the custody of the Committee revealed that you have always been in the Company of the Minister while on international trips on board the said aircraft, you are therefore required to furnish details and particulars of trips (with the Minister) embarked upon by yourself with the Minister and the justification for such trips.”