The Independent Investigative Forensic audit report carried out by PriceWaterHouse Coopers over allegations by former CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, that some funds were not remitted to the Federation Accounts, has indicted the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company.
The highlights of the report was released by the Auditor General for the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura, in Abuja Thursday.
In the report, the accounting firm asked both organisations to refund to the federation account “a minimum of $1.48bn.”
Recall PriceWaterHouse, was last year hired to carry out the exercise following an allegation by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, that $20bn was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.
Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano, had written a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan that $49bn was not remitted to the Federation Account by the NNPC.
But following the controversy which the letter generated, a committee was set up to reconcile the account.
Sanusi later recanted and said the unremitted fund was $12bn which he later changed to $20bn.
In the wake of another most recent bombshell by ex CBN Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo that over N30trn remain un accounted for under the supervision of Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iwaela, Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan had on Monday received the report of the forensic auditors, an accounting firm PriceWaterHouse, engaged to carry out a detailed investigation into the activities of the NNPC.
The Nigeria Country Senior Partner of PriceWaterHouse, Uyi Akpata, presented the report to the President on behalf of the firm saying, “It is a privilege for us to have carried out this exercise on behalf of the government and I hope that you will find this report useful.”
Akpata did not give any insight into the forensic report.
In accepting the report however, Jonathan noted that the media and indeed Nigeria would be interested in the findings.
To this end, he directed the Auditor-General of the Federation to study the report and make the key highlights public within the week.
He said, “There has been so much of controversy over this NNPC and leakages or no leakages. I remember the Senate has also looked into it; it is also good that you professionals have also looked into it.
“What appears in the papers and the speculations is also very high, the figures that I cannot even imagine the country will make is being bandied in the newspapers.
“So, I am quite pleased that you have undertaken the forensic audit. Though it is voluminous, I will give it to the professionals.
“In government work, there are people that have the statutory responsibilities to handle such assignment which is the Auditor-General of the Federation.
“So, the Auditor-General will look at it and within the week, let us have key highlights because the media will want to know the key findings vis-a-vis the Senate’s findings and figures being bandied around in the newspapers.”
