Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation, has indicated readiness to appear before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion in unremitted oil revenue but finance minister Zainab Ahmed is evasive, says the committee.

The fund is from the illegal sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil exports from 2014 to date.

During the resumed investigative hearing in Abuja, the minister expressed this through a letter sent to the ad hoc committee and read by its chairman, Mark Gbillah.

Mr Malami said he would provide relevant information on the alleged sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil amounting to over $2.4 billion and crude oil export to global destinations from 2014 to date.

Mr Gbillah, while acknowledging receipt of the letter, said, “Today we are in receipt of a letter from the attorney general of the federation and the minister of justice who is indicating his determination to respect the doctrine of separation of powers and to support our extant laws.”

The legislator said Mr Malami indicated that he was trying to put together the comprehensive response that the committee had raised.

“While we appreciate the attorney general’s response, we would like to indicate that it came a lot later than we expected, and it came without the response that we referred to,” noted Mr Gbillah. “So, we will appreciate it if the AGF provides these responses and also appear before the committee next Thursday. So, let’s give him the window to appear before the committee.”

He, however, said the finance minister was still evasive, adding that the committee had not received any submission or response from her.

“The accountant-general sent a response and has not responded to our follow-up because we asked further questions (as) to what he provided us information about. But we want to call on the minister of finance like the AGF (to) show regard and respect for the separation of powers as enshrined in our Constitution and respond to the request of the committee,” Mr Gbillah stressed.

This, according to him, will enable the committee to get to the bottom of its investigation.

“Like I already said, we are giving her the benefit of the doubt. We are not unmindful of the other powers we have, and we are (not) afraid to exert them. We will do so if the leeway we have provided is still neglected and not recognised by the honourable minister of finance,” he said.

During the resumed investigative hearing the committee quizzed the management staff of some oil companies involved in the lifting and selling of crude oil to global destinations. This was in furtherance of the investigation into the alleged sale of 48 million barrels of crude oil amounting to over $2.4 billion and crude oil export from 2014 to date. 

(NAN)