…….. says he is ready to be probed by Buhari
The Federal Government yesterday released the report of an international audit firm that investigated the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) after a former CBN governor accused it of diverting $20 billion oil revenues.
Emir of Kano Muhammad Sanusi made the allegation early last year when he was CBN governor. He was subsequently sacked.
When the allegation persisted, the government appointed Price-Water-Cooper to investigate the NNPC account. It did but the report was not made public.
But President Goodluck Jonathan only yesterday directed that the report be made public, less than 24 hours after the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari said he would look into Sanusi’s allegations.
Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, who announced the release of the report yesterday, said Jonathan was deeply concerned about the continuing suggestions that the money was still unaccounted for.
“To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC forensic audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter,” Abati said while briefing State House reporters.
Abati said the incoming administration of retired General Muhammadu Buhari had the right to probe the president if it wanted to do so.
“We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation,” Abati said.
The presidential spokesman described as most unfortunate and uncharitable, allegations by the All Progressives Congress that the Jonathan administration was trying to tie the hands of the incoming government.
He said Jonathan would never authorise any attempt to create any problem for the incoming administration.
He said the Jonathan administration “which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed’s statement”.
According to Abati, Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.
He said without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan administration would continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.
The presidential aide added that in continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office, Jonathan has not and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.
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