Senate summons Finance Minister, AGF over alleged N7.5bn secret withdrawal

The Senate has summoned the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Ahmed Zainab and Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, over the alleged secret withdrawal of N7.5 billion from the two per cent National Automotive Council Levy Account domiciled with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

According to the Senate Committee on Public Accounts, the first N3.8 billion was withdrawn in two installments of N2.8 billion in 2005 and N1 billion in 2006.

The revelation was contained in the report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which is being considered by the Senate committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

The second N3.7 billion, the report said, was withdrawn between March- December 2000 in three separate payments of N725 million, N1 billion and N2 billion.

When the Committee asked the Director General of National Automotive Design and Development Council, Jelani Aliyu, about the withdrawal, he said the money was withdrawn without the knowledge of the agency.

He said the Agency has been writing to the Accountant General and Ministry of Finance on the need to refund the money but there was no response.

Angered by this development, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts resolved to summon the Minister of Finance and Accountant General of the Federation to give explanation on the fund.

The query reads: “A total sum of N3,836,000,000.00 (Three billion, eight hundred and thirty-six million naira) was irregularly withdrawn from the 2% National Automotive Council Levy Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, Abuja in two installments of N2,800,000,000 (in 2005) and N1,036,000,000.00 (in 2006) by the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Finance as car loan to be granted for the Security Personnel Car Purchase Scheme Loan.” (Daily Independent)