Alleged missing $20bn: Jonathan orders release of NNPC’s full audit report

Following the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s vow to probe the alleged missing $20 billion Sanusi, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday ordered the release of the forensic audit report of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and now Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, had during his tenure, alerted the nation of the alleged missing money.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President also denied the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Lai Mohammed, that the Federal Government officials are engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service”.
The President has also assured that he will never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration, noting that because he conceded defeat following the outcome of the March 28 presidential election does not imply a cessation of governance,as  unjustly alleged by the APC.
Buhari had while meeting with some politicians from Adamawa State on Sunday, vowed to probe the alleged missing fund
The government had engaged an audit firm, Price Waterhouse Cooper (PWC) to investigate the alleged missing fund following the continued controversies it generated, which recommended that the NNPC should refund $1.4 billion to the Federation Account.
According to Abati, “President Jonathan is  deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 billion was unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.
“To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan, in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter”.
On the allegation that the Jonathan administration was engaged in last minute looting of the treasury, Abati described the suggestion as unfortunate and uncharitable.
He said: “We have noted with concern, the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed that officials of the Federal Government are engaged in “last minute looting of the nation’s resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service.
“We also consider as most unfortunate and uncharitable, the suggestion by Alhaji Mohammed that the Jonathan administration is trying to “tie the hands” of the incoming government merely by continuing to discharge its constitutional responsibilities until the end of its tenure.
“The Jonathan administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful hand-over of power to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement.
“President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.
“Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.
“In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office, however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.
“President Jonathan will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that the outcome of the March 28 presidential election does not imply a cessation of governance, unjustly alleges.
“As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.
“We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation,” the President said.