The main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has raised concern over N4.6 billion allegedly disbursed to private accounts of some directors by the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who is Minister of Power, between September and December.
National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement yesterday, accused the Federal Government of “recklessly plundering and looting resources meant for national development and blaming it on past administrations.”
Ologbondiyan, called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to speak up as the act contravened Section 713 clearly provides that no ‘public money shall be paid into a private bank account” and that “an official who pays public money into a private account is deemed to have done so with fraudulent intentions.’
He said: “Following the outcome of investigative reports on ₦4.6 billion that was allegedly paid between the months of September and December into the private accounts of some directors and employees by the then Minister power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola now Minister of Power.
“The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the action is unconstitutional and disgusting that such fraudulent transactions is taking place under the watch of President Mohammadu Buhari.
“It is indeed appalling and of course revealing that such huge fraud, which is in direct contravention of Sections 7, 701 and 713 of our nation’s financial regulations reportedly occurred under Fashola’s watch.
“The party also charges the Buhari Presidency to speak out on the report which has further exposed the rot and humongous corruption going on in ministries, department and agencies under its watch, despite the much orchestrated anti-corruption stance and “holier than thou” attitude of its officials.
“The public can now see how officials in the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration are recklessly plundering and looting resources meant for national development and blaming it on past administrations.
“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that the pattern and route of this fraud points to a high level conspiracy to funnel out funds from the ministry to service some higher interests, which must be unraveled and the funds immediately recovered.
“Nigerians can now see why the nation’s power, housing and road infrastructure had remained in shambles despite the huge resources allocated for development under the Buhari administration,” he said.
