President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday received the report of the forensic investigation he ordered into the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Jonathan had ordered the investigation in March last year, following allegations of missing funds from the corporation’s accounts made by former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and now Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi.
The firm engaged for the job, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, has concluded its assignment and, led by its country Senior Partner, Uyi Akpata, presented its report to the president at the State House, Abuja, with Jonathan promising that he would get experts to look at it as quickly as possible.
Akpata told the president that “it is a privilege for us to have carried this exercise out on behalf of the government and I hope that you will find this report useful.” Receiving the voluminous document, President Jonathan acknowledged the controversy which surrounded the accounts of the NNPC, saying that Nigerians were eager to know the exact position. “There has been so much of controversy over this NNPC and leakages or no leakages. I remember the Senate have also looked into it. It is also good that you professionals have also looked into it. “What appears in the papers and the speculations is also very high. The figures that I cannot even imagine the country will make is being bandied in the newspapers. “So I am quite pleased that you have taken the forensic audit. Though it is voluminous, I will give it to the professionals.
“In government work, there are people that have the statutory responsibilities to handle such assignments which is the Auditor General of the Federation. “So, the Auditor General will look at it and within the week, let us have key highlights, because the media will want to know the key findings vis a vis the Senate findings and figures being bandied in the newspaper.
“By the time we go through the Petroleum Industry Bill and pass it into a law, most of this lapses will be corrected and the misconception will be properly addressed. “I thank you for the good work you have done and I believe it will help us to move things forward and set things right and I promise we will handle it decisively. “I hope we will not call them back, but where the need be, we will call them back if there are issues that are not so clear, but we are happy with what we have done so far,” he said.
Some sees this action as a hurried response to Prof. Charles Soludo’s allegations over missing trillions of naira and mismanagement of the economy.
