The House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged $2.4 billion undeclared crude oil sales has accused Finance Minister Zainab Ahmed of approving payments to whistleblowers in percentages at variance with the policy.

On Tuesday, the ad hoc committee investigating the alleged $2.4 billion undeclared crude oil sale said this was based on findings from the accountant general’s office.

“There are responses received from the accountant general’s office which show that the Minister of Finance has been approving payments to whistleblowers in percentages at variance with the policy says they should be paid,” said the committee chairman, Rep. Mark Gbillah.

The committee had summoned Ms Ahmed, Attorney General Abubakar Malami, and top public officials and agencies over the unremitted funds.

Mr Gbillah said the committee was looking at the issues that had to do with allegations of 48 million crude oil barrels sold in China.

He summoned Ms Ahmed and Mr Malami after the ministers shunned the investigative hearing.

“And a lot of what we have to investigate regards to whistleblower policy is saddled within the Ministry of Finance and the Attorney General of the federation.

“There have been allegations of the AGF being also involved in receiving funds from outside the country without these funds being remitted into the federation account in line with the provisions of the constitution.

“There are allegations that expenditure of these recoveries have also been done in complete violation of the provisions of the constitution,” he said.

Those who appeared before the committee included the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA), Oriental Energy and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB).

Last year, the committee chairman said the House of Representatives would partner with stakeholders to investigate the missing funds.

(NAN)