The Senate has queried the Ministry of Power over the sum of N7 billion allegedly smuggled into its budget without appropriation from the National Assembly.

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts premised its query on the 2015 audit report of the Auditor-General of the Federal which was submitted to it for consideration.

The Committee chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South) wondered how N7 billion could have appeared in the Ministry’s Accounts when the 2015 budget was yet to be passed and the account for 2014 was already closed.

The lawmakers noted that there was no evidence that such money was budgeted for in respect of the Hydropower Transmission Project in either 2014 or 2015 fiscal year.

The Auditor General’s query reads: “The sum of N7 billion was received by the Ministry of Power in January 2015 as shown in the accounts. This fund was spread into 4 (Four) commercial banks under the Account name Hydropower Transmission Project.

“The budget for 2015 was not yet passed as at the time this money was received by the Ministry in January 2015 while the account for the year 2014 was already closed as at 31st December, 2014.

“It was also observed that there was no evidence that such money was budgeted for in respect of the Hydropower Transmission Project in either 2014 or 2015 fiscal year of the Ministry Appropriation Act.”

But the Ministry of Power, in a written response, said the Federal Government “released the money under the special Intervention Fund to the Ministry for the funding Hydroelectric Power Project.”

It added: “The fund was released as special warrant and therefore was outside of the Ministry’s approved budget.

“The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation approved project accounts for the fund in four different banks.”

According to the report, N2 billion out of the fund was transferred to Diamond Bank, Heritage Bank – N2 billion, Access Bank – N2 billion and Wema Bank – N1 billion.

It was gathered that the money was approved by then President as loan for the evacuation of 40MW of electricity generated from Kashimila Hydropower station.

The Chairman, Senator Urhogbide, however further demanded more documents to see whether the money was properly utilised as claimed by the Ministry of Power. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy The Nation)

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