The upper chamber of the National Assembly has uncovered how the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) in Benin, Edo state, paid the sum of N210 million without payment vouchers and internal audit checks.

This alleged illegality was unfolded by the Senate Committee on Public Accounts Chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide through the 2017 report of the Office of Auditor General of the Federation.

But, the Acting Executive Director of NIFOR, Celestin Ikuenobe, claimed that the reason for the failure of the Institute to provide payment vouchers for the expenditure was as a result of sabotage by some staff of the Institute, who showed divided loyalty.

He explained that there was a crisis in the Institute when the officials of the Auditor-General came for the auditing at the Institute, saying that the members were divided among themselves and this led to a lot of damages at the Institute.

But the Chairman of the Committee said the Acting Executive Director should go and look for all the missing vouchers in the Institute within one week.

The query reads: “Four hundred and twenty-three (423) payments totalling ₦210,921,849.66 (Two hundred and ten million, nine hundred and twenty-one thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine naira, sixty-six kobo) were made without payment vouchers and internal audit checks, contrary to Financial Regulations 601 and 1705, which stipulate that all payments must be vouched for, and the head of the internal audit unit in all Ministries/Extra-ministerial offices and other arms of government shall ensure that 100% pre-payment audit of all checked and passed vouchers is carried out and the vouchers forwarded under security schedule directly to the appropriate central pay office for payment.

“The Executive Director’s response vide Ref. No. OAuGF/EIAD &SD/FMARD/NIFOR/2018/2 dated 30th April 2018, claimed that no payment was made without raising payment voucher and advised that the vouchers in question be attached.

“The Executive Director failed to address the issues raised. Recommendation Sanctions as contained in Financial Regulation 3106 should be invoked.

Executive Director is required to recover the sum of ₦210,921,849.66 to Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) and forward evidence for my confirmation.” (Daily Independent)

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