MELAYE ASKS EFCC TO PROBE UDUAGHAN The Executive Secretary, Anti-Corruption Network, Hon. Dino Melaye, on Tuesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, over the alleged questionable spending of over N9.4 billion excess crude fund that accrued to the state in 2012. Addressing journalists in Abuja, he said the antigraft group would, in the course of the week, send a petition to the EFCC and other relevant anti-graft agencies with a view to providing them with evidence upon which they would base their investigations. The former House of Representatives member said that it was curious that the state would spend over N9.4 billion within three days of receipt. He said: “The information available to us in one of the instances, among others at our disposal, is to say the least scandalous. This is in regard to the utilisation of the over N9.4 billion excess crude allocation to Delta State received in January 2013. “This money was spent in almost less than three days after receipt in such a manner that calls the principles of accounting to question. “We will in the course of the week forward proper petition to all anti-graft agencies. Corruption in all states must stop.” Reeling statistics on the alleged spending, Melaye, relied on a document allegedly obtained from the Office of the Accountant General of the state which stated that over N279 million was used by the spent by the state government to purchase hampers, as well as over N74 million on the maintenance of street lights. He also alleged that the state government spent over N1bn on overheads, even though appropriation might have been made for it in the 2012 budget. Other spending from the Excess Crude Account which Melaye questioned also include the construction of Trans-Warri-Ode Itsekiri Bridge and access road at the cost of N800 million, award to members of Delta State Contingent to Eko 2012 at the cost of over N330 million and hosting of Senior Course 35 participants of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, at over N37 million, among others. He said that while the chunk of the money was spent on fictitious projects, some others were bogus and over bloated. “The desperation to consume the said over N9bn is unparalleled in the history of the University of Corruption. No tangible social amenities or infrastructure considered. This is a pattern in Delta State,” the former lawmaker added. On the choice of Delta State, Melaye said he had no personal interest in the affairs of the state, insisting that “the only agenda Anti-Corruption Network has is to stamp out corruption at all the levels of governments, be it at the federal, state or local government areas. He maintained that his group had begun investigations into the books of some other states, adding that the findings would be made public after it might have gathered sufficient information. According to him, the fight against public graft is one of no retreat, no surrender. Via mirrowonline
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 16:20:40 +0000
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