Diezani’s jet scandal: Reps panel under pressure, uncovers third aircraft

According to reports from The Punch,there were indications on Wednesday  that members of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has come under intense pressure to tread softly on their ongoing investigation into  the   alleged  financial excesses of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

It was   also learnt in Abuja that Alison-Madueke   chartered a third jet for her use, besides the two already in the records of the committee.

The Solomon Olamilekan-led committee is investigating the expenditure of N10 billion on a Challenger 850 chartered and maintained for the minister’s use.

The committee was holding preliminary meetings on the investigation when it stumbled on fresh information that Alison-Madueke also chartered a second jet for her trips.

A source disclosed that a return trip on the Global Express XRS to London for example, gulped €600,000 or N137m.

However,  a lawmaker said that since the House passed the resolution last week to probe the allegations against the minister, “forces within Nigeria, especially outside the National Assembly,” had been calling some  of the committee members relentlessly.

He said, “At a point on Tuesday, the pressure became unbearable. I think people are beginning to think that the House is embarking on a witch-hunt. But that is not the idea.

“We are doing our constitutional duty to expose corruption wherever it exists.

“If at the end of the day, the investigation proves that it was justifiable for a minister to spend billions of naira to charter aircraft, so be it.”

Efforts to get key  members of the committee to  comment  on the alleged pressure  hit a brick wall.

 When contacted, the spokesman for the House, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said   it would be inappropriate for the House to speak on a matter it had referred to its committee for investigation.

 “The matter is before the committee”, he said.

Findings on Wednesday showed that the committee was gathering information on the existence of a third jet chartered by the minister for the same purposes as the first two.

A source close to the Public Accounts  committee, said,  “From available information, “there  are three aircraft the minister charters for her trips within and outside the country. “What they were doing was to alternate the planes,”

The source, who did not want his name in print, was however quick to add that the committee’s assignment was only to investigate and not to indict anybody.

“Well, the assignment before the committee is an investigation. Nobody has been accused of any wrongdoing for now, but we have to establish all these allegations,” he said.

The committee has yet to decide on the date it would summon Alison-Madueke.

 A meeting of the committee, which reportedly started around 1pm, had still in progress as of  4pm.

 Top on the agenda were said to be the allegations against the minister.

 Another  source  said, “The members are meeting to discuss the methodology to adopt in the investigation.

“An aviation consultant is assisting with additional information.

“Essentially, the investigation is to establish whether the minister did spend these huge funds on the jets.

“Who approved the funds? Was the money appropriated by the National Assembly?

“What aspect of our laws allows a minister to fly in chartered aircraft overseas for her private or official trips.

“These are the issues and all agencies or officials involved will be invited to state their side of the case.”