Senate queries alleged disbursement of N4.16bn Judgement debts

The Senate Public Accounts Committee has uncovered how the Solicitor General of Nigeria, Dayo Akpata allegedly disbursed N4.16 billion judgement debts vote without due process.

This discovery was made during the Committee’s consideration of the Annual Report of the Auditor-General for the Federation.

The audit on the Accounts of the Federation of Nigeria was for January 2017.

The Committee set up on the order of the National Assembly administers the disbursement of Judgement debts,

Its investigation into the issue started after the public outcry of non payment of Judgement debts by the Federal government.

Judgement Debts

In the 2016 budget appropriation, lawmakers appropriated N460m for the Judgement debts while in 2017 another N10bn was appropriated.

But, based on the record from the Federal Ministry of Justice, N5.3 billion was released within the two years by the Federal government and N4.16 billion was disbursed to over 50 beneficiaries.

No Detailed Explanation

The Committee queried the Ministry saying, “there is no detailed explanation of how the remaining N1.17 billion was spent by the Ministry or whether it was returned to federation Account or cured by the Ministry.’’

The query reads: “Examination of Budget of the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of ₦460 million was appropriated for payment of Judgment Debts for 2016 and ₦10 billion appropriated for 2017, totalling ₦10.460 billion

“Further examination revealed that the Committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the fund was dissolved after 2013 financial year and is yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations.

“However, the Ministry has been disbursing this sum without a Committee in place, lack of controls which could lead to loss of public funds.

“The Solicitor-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary is requested to immediately constitute the Committee as required, otherwise the provision of Financial Regulation 3106 on irregular payments should be invoked.”

In her response to the query, the representative of Solicitor General, Director of Finance in the Ministry, Modupe Bakare said that the Ministry has not contravened any laid down procedures.

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Transparency and accountability

Bakare said, “The Ministry quite appreciate your concern over disbursement of public funds, to ensure transparency and accountability. However, it might interest you to note that there is no any standard process laid down by the financial Authority which the Ministry contravenes in disbursing the funds in question.  

“It is noteworthy to mention that the Ministry has not deviated from the mandate of the Committee in making the payment, there is no pending litigation against the judgment debts before making the final payment. ” 

Also, the Committee chaired by Senator Matthew Uroghide, however, kicked against the payment of judgement debts without recourse to the ad-hoc committee set up for the purpose of administering the payment.

He asked the Senate to sanction the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for the payment.

Senator Suleiman Kwari says the act by Ministry of Justice is condemnable.

“The money should be refunded to the Federal government, for violating the laid down procedure,” he added.

Furthermore, the Committee then asked the Auditor-General to verify the vouchers they presented and report back to it.

This will them find out if there were probity, accountability and transparency in the disbursement of appropriated sum.