Senate Moves To Unmask Subsidy Cabal

Chairman, Senate Joint Committee investigating the management of the fuel subsidy scheme, Senator Magnus Abe, says the committee is determined to unearth the criteria used to select beneficiaries of the scheme.

Abe spoke on Monday in Abuja ahead of the public hearing which commenced yesterday.

“The committee has looked at a lot of the importers and other beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy scheme. We’ve resolved to call them to come and explain to us how some of them got on the scheme.”

He said from the documents the committee had received so far, there was a clear indication that most of the beneficiaries were not qualified to participate in the scheme.

“From the documents submitted by the PPPRA, some members of the committee are convinced that most of the people who participated in the scheme were not even qualified in the first place.”

He said the committee had also invited the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to attend the public hearing as observers, adding that other relevant stakeholders were also expected to come forward to testify.

He, however, complained that some agencies were yet to submit their written memoranda, saying this would not dampen the spirit of the committee.

“We’ve tried as much as possible to make sure that we accommodate everybody, we’ve even sent advance questions to them to help them prepare written briefs.

“We should have received these briefs as at the Nov. 18, but we received from some agencies; we didn’t receive from others.

“Nonetheless, we expect that they will be here tomorrow and ready to answer the questions we will ask them.”

The committee Chairman gave the assurance that the investigation would be as open and transparent as possible.

Our correspondent reports that those expected to attend the public hearing include the Minister of Finance, Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, her Petroleum counterpart, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke and the CBN Governor, Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Others are the Group Managing Director of NNPC, both the current and past Executive Secretaries of PPPRA, the former Minister of Finance who is currently the Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr Olusegun Aganga.

Dr Rasheed Gbadamosi, the pioneer Chairman of PPPRA, is also expected to appear before the Committee.

Former Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Rivers State Council, Mr Ipalibo Karibi-Botoye (left) in a handshake with Amanyanabo of Kalabari Kingdom, Prof. J. T. J. Princewill, during the 2011 Rivers NUJ Press Week in Port Harcourt, on Monday. With them is Deputy Speaker, State House of Assembly, Mr Leyii Kwane (2nd left) and Chief Emma Anyanwu.