Senate Committee on Gas has uncovered another illegal withdrawal of $1.1 billion from the account of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) apart from $1.05 billion allegedly withdrawn from NLNG account for fuel subsidy by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The chairman of the Committee on Gas, Senator Basset Akpan made the shocking revelation at the begin of investigative hearing.
According to him, available documents with the committee revealed that $650 million was withdrawn from the account on 7th of June, 2018, another $415 million was withdrawn and another $86 million was also withdrawn from the account.
Akpan who expressed dissatisfaction with the absence of CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and NNPC GMD , Mikanti Baru requested for their appearance in the next hearing of the Committee.
Speaking particularly on the CBN governor, the chairman said the Apex Bank governor is found of ignoring the invitation of the Senate which will not be tolerated by the lawmakers.
Akpan explained that the available documents before the Committee showed that aside the $1.05 bn , the Committee is mandated by the Senate to investigate ,several withdrawals which had also been made from the NLNG dividends account without required supporting documents to back them .
He said the unauthorized withdrawal is unacceptable to the Senate.
He concluded that,” Both the NNPC and CBN must furnish this committee with other relevant documents on the withdrawals latest by Tuesday next week and the NNPC GMD, the Corporations Group Executive Director ( Finance) , Isiaka Abdulrasak and the CBN Governor , Godwin Emefiele , must appear before us on Thursday next week “.
