The
House of Representatives gave indications on Sunday that it would
engage the services of an aviation expert to assist in the investigation
into the alleged N10bn expenditure on a private jet by the Minister of
Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The chartered aircraft is said to be maintained on a bill of 500,000 Euros or N3.120m monthly for Alison-Madueke’s personal use.
A member from Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde
Adejare, who brought the issue before the House on Thursday last week,
had stated that N3.120bn had been spent on the maintenance of the jet in
the last two years.
The matter was referred to the House Committee on Public Accounts for investigation.
Investigations on Sunday showed that an
aviation consultant would be hired to assist the committee in carrying
out the assignment.
“An expert in aviation matters has been contacted by the committee. He is to assist in guiding the committee on technical areas.
“This is to avoid a situation whereby
persons appearing before the committee will dwell too much on
technicalities or try to confuse committee members,” a National Assembly
source confided in The PUNCH on Sunday.
“The secretariat started contacting the committee members on Sunday for the meeting.
“You know, the resolution was passed on
Thursday. The next day (Friday) was not a sitting day and some members
had already travelled to their constituencies.
“So, Monday is the ideal date for a
preliminary meeting to discuss the issue by committee members. It is
after the meeting that the format of the hearing will be adopted and
decisions will be reached on when to invite stakeholders, including the
minister for appearances,” the source added.
PUNCHNG
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