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President Talks Tough on Subsidy Fraudsters, Vows to Prosecute

By on July 6, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan has steeled his resolve to ensure the fraudsters unveiled in the Aig-Imoukhuede-led Committee on subsidy claims are made to face the wrath of the law.

Last weekend the Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, released a statement which proclaimed President Jonathan was hell-bent on stamping out the corruption in the fuel subsidy program.

The President’s new attitude is connected to the paucity of funds in the 2012 subsidy budget, which was initially N 808 billion. Surprisingly over 60% of that amount has been spent settling subsidy arrears for 2011, and that settlement hasn’t even concluded. Yet there is little to no money to pay for this year’s subsidy bill.

The Minister of Finance halted the payments in order to review them and ascertain fraudsters guised as petroleum marketers were not still benefitting from the scheme.

According to the report of the Aig-Imoukhuede-led committee, petroleum marketers have defrauded the nation to the tune of  more than N 480 billion.

The fraudsters used several diabolical tactics including claiming and collecting subsidy funds based on documentation listing ghost ships. That is ships that were long decommissioned.

Basic social amenities were deprived millions and millions of Nigerians whilst the well-connected political and business elite stuffed themselves full of the proverbial National cake.

President Jonathan faced with the option of completely removing fuel subsidies in order to salvage the National economy, seems to have chosen to tread the path of nobility and crush the economic parasites sucking the life-blood from the country.

Patriotic Nigerians have resolved not to support the President unless he nips corruption in the bud and restores sanity to the country before it decays into an even more deteriorated state.

The Presidential spokesman released a statement from the President today which confirms his about-turn on the fight against corruption.

“President Jonathan has directed the 15-member committee headed by Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede to begin work immediately and conclude its assignment by 1700 hours on Friday, July 13, 2012 as a prelude to immediate action on all identified cases of fraud”,Abati said in the statement.

“Other members of the new committee are: Dr. Abraham Nwankwo (DG DMO), Mr. Bernard Otti (GED Finance & Accounts, NNPC), Mrs. Oyinye Ahuchogu (CBN), Mrs. Sola David-Borha (MD Stanbic/IBTC, representing the Banking Community), Mr. Mike Osatuyi (National Secretary, IPMAN), Mr. Obafemi Olawore, Mr. Jonah Otunla (Accountant-General of the Federation), Mr. Bright Okogwu (DG, Budget Office), Mr. Reginald Stanley (Executive Secretary, PPPRA), Mrs. Aisha Waziri-Umar and Mr. Jalal Arabi.

“The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the State Security Service will also be represented on the Committee which has the following terms of reference:

1. To further verify and reconcile all claims made in the report of the Technical Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments;

2. To properly identify all cases of overpayment and/or irregular payment;

3. To accurately identify all likely fraudulent cases for criminal investigation and

4. To review any other pertinent issues that may arise from its work and make appropriate recommendations.

“On receiving the Verification and Reconciliation Committee’s report, President Jonathan will order whatever action he deems necessary to ensure justice and the full recovery of all fuel subsidy funds that may have been illegally paid”, the statement concluded.