The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Managing Director of Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc over N4.014 trillion revenue/debt owed by some international electricity customers, namely Republic of Togo, Republic of Benin and Niger Republic.

The notice was contained in a letter titled: ‘Re-consideration of Auditor General for the Federation Annual Reports’, dated November 30, 2022 with Ref. No: HR/PAC/SCOS/9NASS/QUE.64/48 signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Oluwole Oke (PDP-Osun).

While noting that the committee does not allow representation, he directed the NBET Managing Director to appear in person alongside Dr. Marilyn Amobi who served as MD/CEO from 2016 to 2020 to justify the reason for non-rendition of the Audited Accounts for the year 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019, on Thursday, 8th December, 2022 at 11:00am; to defend your accounts laid before the Parliament by the oAuGF.

The letter reads: “The Committee is in receipt of your correspondence and has reviewed your 2017-2019 Audited Accounts and resolved to request for the following additional information/documents to enable the Committee carry-out its Legislative mandate: Indebtedness of International Customers (Republic of Benin, Togo and Niger to NBET and TCN from 2018 to 2022).

“External Auditor’s report showed that the Nigeria has international bilateral agreement on electricity energy delivery and sales with Republic of Benin, Togo and. Niger. Prior to electricity transitional arrangement, these agreements were administered by Transmission Company of Nigeria.

“However, the Ministry of Power on 15/03/2016 directed that the administration of these international customers should be transferred to NBET. Moreover, before this can take place, certain agreements and negotiation have to be made and this accounted for the reason why TCN and NBET came up with a sharing formula to be used to split payment from international customers since TCN issued a single invoice for both administrative charges and energy payments.

“Based on this, 24% of the payment received from international customers was deducted for administrative charges by TCN while the balance of 76% was passed to NBET for the payment of GENCO capacity and energy bill. The total invoices issued to international customers was 30.7 billion and 20.7 billion in the year 2018 and 2019 respectively.

“Note 17(i) of the account receivables disclosed that the International Customers owed NBET the sum of 17.3 billion while DISCO and GENCI owed 828 billion and 2.2 billion respectively as at 2019 while 7576 provision was made for impairment,” said the letter.

To this end, Hon. Oker quested for a schedule showing total invoices issued to international customers from 2018 to 2022 showing the value of invoices issued, amount paid and outstanding balance for the three countries.

According to Hon. Oke, the “assessment of the External Auditor’s report for the year 2019 showed that the company has paid 3.03 trillion out of the total invoices of 4.014 trillion received from generating companies as at 31/12/2021, while the distribution Companies have paid 1.308trillion out of 3.773 trillion as at 31/12/2021. This situation has adversely affected the liquidity required of the companies to meet its obligations.

“The total outstanding invoices due from DISCOs are 2.4 trillion and estimated interest receivable is 931b based on interest rate of NIBOR+4%. Produce a schedule showing the value of invoice raised by generating companies from 2016 to 2022, amount paid by NBET and the outstanding balance as at date.

“Provide a schedule showing the value of invoice issued to Distribution Companies from 2016 to 2022, amount paid by them and the outstanding balance,” he said.

In the same vein, the lawmaker unveiled plans to revisit the investigation into the oAGF’s audit report on the utilization of N1.3 trillion loan facility granted by Federal Government to NBET.

“External Auditor’s report revealed that the company was granted a loan facility to the tune of N701 billion in 2017 while additional N600 billion was granted in the year 2019 by Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The company’s ability to meet its obligation is dependent on continuous support from the FGN. This is not sustainable. This is the ground upon which the External Auditor reported in the Audited Accounts that its opinion was not modified on this matter. Page 26 of the submission reflected that the company’s borrowing stood at N772 billion as at 31/12/2019,” he said.

To this end, the NBET Managing Director is to provide detailed utilization records of these two credit facilities, loan repayment schedule showing how much It has repaid and the unmatured principal and interest.

On the possible non-compliance with procedure of disposal of government asset, he observed that the “review of Statement of Cash Flow confirmed that the sum of 7.5 million represented proceeds realized from the disposal of Property Plant and Equipment in the year 2019. Also, the review of Fixed Asset Schedule revealed that the Motor Vehicles worth 69.9 million were disposed.”

Consequently, the Committee requested for a schedule showing the original cost of the asset, date of acquisition, current value prior to disposal, disposal amount, date of disposal, name of beneficiaries; Provide evidence of advertisement for the auction is required and the detailed of auctioneers; Produce evidence of payment by beneficiaries; as well as all necessary approval prior to disposal as a disposing entity.

While noting that NBET engaged in outrageous expenses, Hon. Oke said: “Note 8 of the year 2019 Audited Accounts disclosed that the company spent 1181m on consultancy services while the sum of 79.1 million was expended on local and international travel. Meanwhile, the company failed to separate cost element of international travel from local one.”

In the bid to ascertain the infraction, the company is expected to “produce utilization records vis-a-vis the amount expended on international travel showing approval from SGF to travel, Air ticket “to and fro”, international passport, list and details of beneficiaries, purpose of travel, evidence of training among others and Provide utilization records of this consultancy services.”

While noting that there was possible breach of procurement law, Hon. Oke observed that “Fixed Asset Schedule disclosed that the company acquired various assets totaling 294 million comprising (F&F = 35m, Computer Equipment = 10.7m, Motor Vehicles = 182.1m, Office Equipment = 66m in the year 2019.”

Consequently, the company is to provide all procurement records down to award letters, payment vouchers with respect to these non-current assets acquired, evidence of deduction and rendition of statutory deduction inclusive.”

On the issue bothering on possible supply of energy by NBET to DISCO without valid bank guarantees, he observed that: “Under the vesting agreements signed by the Distribution Companies, the Distribution Companies provided bank guarantees covering three months of energy supply in case of default.

“Further analysis showed that the bank guarantee provided by Abuja Electricity Distribution Company to the tune of 8.1 billion through United Bank for Africa expired on 01/07/2022 while the guarantee provided by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Companies provided through Fidelity Bank to the tune of 6.3 billion has expired too,” he reiterated.

To this end, the company is expected to provide a written submission, backed up with evidence to show that these two companies have renewed the bank guarantee as well as copies of the bank guarantee.

On the causes of consistent net loss declaration for years by NBET, the lawmaker said: “Further review of the Statement of Comprehensive Income revealed that the company has been consistently reporting loss for years despite huge capital injection by FGN; loss of 109 billion, 241 billion, 155 billion, 334 million in the year 2019, 2018, 2017 and 2016 respectively.”

To this end, Hon. Oke requested for a brief as to why the company made loss within the referenced years as well as the Net profit or loss position for the year 2020 and 2021 is required.

On the status of trade and other receivables from 2019 to 2021, he noted that: “Further assessment of statement of financial position showed that the company’s receivables as at 31/12/2019 was 1.5trillion while that of 2018 was 1.06 trillion. Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for services rendered in the ordinary course of business.”

Consequently, he requested for schedule showing the breakdown of the years 2019, 2020 and 2021 receivables such as name of debtors, amount owing, date service rendered, date due for payment, adding that “Statement of Financial Position revealed that the company’s payables as at 31/12/2019 was 1.2 trillion while that of 2018 was 9546 billion.”

To this end, the Company is required to provide a schedule showing the breakdown of the years 2019,2020 and 2021 payables such as name of creditors, amount owing, date service rendered, date due for payment; and the reason for having these huge payables unsettled bearing in mind that late settlement of obligation could lead to litigation in court.

On the possible cause of late rendition/non-rendition of audited accounts, the Committee stated that: “Our review of the submission confirmed that the Audited Accounts for the year 2014, 2015 and 2016 were submitted to the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation on 13/10/2021 contrary to Financial Regulation which states that the Audited Accounts should be rendered on or before 31/05 of the succeeding years. Similarly, the Audited Accounts for the year 2017,2018 and 2019 were submitted to the Auditor General on 23/11/2022.”

The Committee mandated the NBET Managing Director “to come along with Dr. Marilyn Amobi who served as MD/CEO from 2016 to 2020 to justify the reason for non-rendition of the Audited Accounts for the year 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

“You are to provide NBET Audited Accounts for the years 2020 and 2021 and evidence of Rendition of same to the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation.

“You are to come along with your External Auditors, Aminu Ibrahim & Co of City Plaza, Plot596, Ahmadu Bello Way, P.O Box 971, Garki 2, Abuja to explain its involvement or otherwise in the late rendition of Audited Accounts to the Auditor General for the Federation,” the letter read in part. (Nigerian Tribune)

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