Tashikalmah Hallah and Nasidi A. Yahaya
3 July 2009
Abuja — The House of Representatives Committee on Public Account yesterday summoned the Accountant General of the Federation, Ibrahim Dankwambo and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi over the controversy surrounding the alleged non remittance of 2005 Signature Bonuses accruable to Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
Rep Usman Adamu (ANPP, Kano State) said $1.071 billion was realised as signature bonus from sales of oil blocks in 2005 but lamented the PTDF has not receive the money.
According to him, the CBN Governor, Accountant General of the Federation and the Executive Secretary of PTDF will appear before the committee to resolve the controversy.
The PTDF had told the committee recently that the government through the CBN and Office of the Accountant General of the Federation did not remit the money.
But the AGF represented by Mr. I.O. Osibote Director of Consolidation of Account said the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation makes releases based on approval given.
According to him, "Information available to the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation shows that the accrued amount to Signature Bonus Account from the sales of oil blocs in 2005 is $840m i.e $1.071billion less $231m being letter of credit with the Federal Ministry of Finance) and not $1.2bn as stated in your letter".
Also, he said the government had released $100m to the PTDF.
But the Central Bank of Nigeria in its submission to the Committee said $450m has so far been released to the PTDF from 2007 to 2009 but did not give release figures made between 2005 and 2006.
Mr Mohammed Nda who represented the CBN governor said the government is going to refund $231m following the cancellation of oil bloc 321/323 awarded to Korean National Oil Corporation.
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