President Jonathan denies looting treasury, orders release of NNPC audit report

President Goodluck Jonathan has  ordered the immediate release of the report of the forensic audit of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), one of the sour points of his administration.

President Jonathan also denied that his government is engaging in last minute looting ahead of the May 29, 2015 handover date to the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari.

In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, Jonathan said the allegation of looting by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, was nothing but lies.

Jonathan said his government was trying to do its best to ensure a smooth handover of the reins of power to the incoming administration.

The government has been accused of keeping the report under wraps in a bid to cover up alleged mass looting of the NNPC.

The statement by Abati reads in full: 'We have noted with concern, the allegation by the spokesman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed that officials of the Federal Government are engaged in 'last minute looting of the nation's resources, rushed privatization of key institutions and hurried recruitment into the public service'.

'We also consider as most unfortunate and uncharitable, the suggestion by Alhaji Mohammed that the Jonathan Administration is trying to 'tie the hands' of the incoming government merely by continuing to discharge its constitutional responsibilities until the end of its tenure.

'The Jonathan Administration which continues to do its best to ensure a smooth and peaceful handover over of power to the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, deeply regrets the unfairness and combative frame of mind reflected in Alhaji Mohammed's statement.

'President Jonathan has done his best in the past five years to discharge his constitutional responsibilities for good governance and effective leadership of the nation.

'Without any prejudice whatsoever to the freedom of the incoming administration to do as it pleases, within the confines of extant laws when it assumes office, the Jonathan Administration will continue to discharge its responsibility to govern until May 29, 2015.

In continuing to fulfil the obligations of his office however, President Jonathan has not, and will never condone any form of unscrupulous conduct on the part of state officials.

'President Jonathan will also never authorise any attempt to create any problems for the incoming administration as the APC spokesperson, who ought to know that the outcome of the March 28 presidential elections does not imply a cessation of governance, unjustly alleges.

'As Alhaji Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit.

'We see nothing wrong with that. After all, the present Administration reviewed the actions of previous governments on assumption of office with resultant benefits for policy and project implementation.

'President Jonathan is also deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 Billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.

'To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter.'