By Umar Muhammad Puma
Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said yesterday that the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke was still under investigation despite a court process contesting the House probe into the N10 billion allegedly spent to maintain a chartered Challenger 850 aircraft in two years.
The court process which was served on the office of the House Speaker stalled a House Committee Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Public Hearing on the matter which was prior scheduled for Monday.
Tambuwal said the House Public Accounts Committee will stay action pending receipt of legal advice on the matter before the court.
“We have not closed that investigation. When we get legal advice, we will know the next line of action.” Tambuwal stated at Tuesday’s plenary while ruling on a point of order raised on the propriety of the court action.
Alison-Madueke has allegedly not only used the said chartered aircraft(s) for official matters, but also private trips, an allegation the NNPC has debunked in other quarters. The NNPC insist that the practice (chartering aircraft) is common and acceptable in the local and international business environment in which it operates.
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