N64 billion still missing from FAAN Coffers as Presidency, EFCC wade in...Transparency Group says Aviation Minister, Njeze in the know
The whereabouts of a whooping N25 billion remitted to the accounts of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), by a revenue concessionaire, Maevis, is still a mystery. The sum which was acknowledged by FAAN in separate letters on March 28, and April 1, 2008, has simply varnished.
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Also another N40 Billion it received in oil and gas concession has disappeared from the FAAN's accounts, fuelling allegations that the huge cash have been split into various private accounts belonging to top management staff and board members.
Aviation minister, Fidelia Njeze is also being fingered as an accomplice. Njeze had set up a review panel to look at the deal between the FAAN and Maevis, plus the attendant allegations. But Pointblanknews.com learnt that till date,, the report with reference number FMA/FAAN/7090/173/February 2010 has not seen the light of day.
Pointblanknews.com learnt that the development is causing some worry in the Presidency with President Goodluck Jonathan calling for an investigation. Meanwhile Kaduna based Transparency Center Network has dragged the FAAN to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (ECC), and the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) over the disappearance of a total sum of N64 Billon.
The FAAN is fighting back, but has not explained how the monies developed legs. They are currently accusing Maevis of not remitting N17 Billion collected recently blaming it for the nonpayment of pensions, and staff wages.
A Board member, Hamisu Shira who spoke with Pointblanknews.com simply described the allegations as 'political', but failed to tell us what happened to the cash received so far. Also FAAN spokesman, Akin Olukunle focused on the N17 Billion. According to him " Maevis cant deny the act that they are owing us ...due to this we have not been able to pay gratuities on pensions and salaries of our workers ...all these are caused by the non remittance of the collections (N17 Billion).."
Hitherto, Maevis had dragged FAAN to the Presidency over the N17 Billion the latter claims it is owing. The firm disclosed that records at Zenith and Skye show that N25 Billion has been acknowledged by FAAN in 2008.
Maevis is also insisting that its records shows over N31 Billion had been paid into the coffers of the FAAN rom Lagos and Abuja airports alone since 2008.
According to Maevis, based on the system design agreed for the project with FAAN, monies collected are electronically transferred into AAN's designated accounts at Zenith and Skye.
According to a petition signed by TCN's Umar Farouk, sent to the EFCC chairman, the group said “The Management of FAAN has collected not less than N25BIILON from the MAEVIS project and $6m.. in 28 months. The management cannot account for this huge money which was generated from only 6 sources . PART OF THIS MONEY WAS DEPOSITED IN PRIVATE ACCOUNT OF AN OFFICIAL OF FAAN.We call on EFCC and ICPC to investigate this information.
5. The FAAN Management has frustrated attempts to computerize other sources of revenue because this will disallow personal mismanagement of the funds AND GOVERNMENT MONEY WILL EASILY BE FUNNELLED THROUGH SUCH SOURCES. The FAAN TOP MANAGEMENT SEEM NOT COMFORTABLE WITH ANY ARRANGEMENT THAT DOESNOT ALLOW DIRECT COLLECTION OF MONEY MANUALLY.
6. Over 50% OF THE FAAN CONCESSIONARES IN FOOD AND BEVERAGES AND OIL AND GAS are not documented with any agreements as many of them are owned by fronts of the top managers.
7. FAAN MANAGERS HAVE FRUSTRATED FURTHER ATTEMPTS TO RECORVER ABOUT N40 BILLION IN OIL AND GAS CONCESSION .The Minister of Aviation is aware of this because she set up a Review panel and the report is lying on her table without implementation.REF FMA/FAAN/7090/173, February 2010"
EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi told Pointblanknews.com that the commission would investigate any alleged wrong doing once the petition gets to them.