Senate Indicts NSA Over Diversion  Of $2.3bn

The  Senate has indicted the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) in an alleged diversion of N1, 075, 266, 599.06, $2, 301, 329.54 and €196, 257.42 by the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA)

The money  which consists of local and foreign currencies, was meant for the Presidential Implementation Committee on Marine Safety and Security (PICOMSS).

A report by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts stated that the fund was diverted into the NSA account contrary to a February 21, 2007, directive approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Presenting the report before the Senate at the plenary,Chairman, Senate Committee on Public Account, Senator Matthew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South),he also disclosed that the NPA received reminder for the settlement of annual PICCOMS  contributions from 2008–2012 totaling N238, 948, 138.12, $238,540.80 and €168, 220.64 respectively.

He said: “The agency also failed to provide evidence to show that the money was used for marine safety and security as directed by the Federal Ministry of Transport and approved by the Federal Executive Council.”

The Senate panel ordered that the NPA should revert to the PICOMSS account, all monies in local and foreign currencies diverted to the NSA.

This include the sum of N1, 314, 214, 737.18, $2, 539, 870.34 and €364, 478.06

Besides, the Senate ordered the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) to refund the sum of $37,672,939.75 to the federation account, meant for contingency provision on the contract for the rehabilitation of the Lagos Harbour moles.

The query submitted to plenary by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Urhoghide,  followed a report by the office of the Auditor General of the federation.

In the report, the committee disclosed that the contract sum of N417, 099, 309.06 as disbursed by the NPA was not duly approved by the Federal Executive Council, and was also not approved by the Tender Committee of the agency.

The report also accused the agency of refusing to furnish the Federal Executive Council with detailed information on the utilization of the contingency fund before it was approved by FEC.