Judgement debts: Senate summons solicitor-general over alleged unilateral disbursement of N4.16bn

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts has summoned the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Dayo Akpata, to appear before it.

He is to respond to a query over the alleged disbursement of N4.16 billion judgement debts vote without recourse to the appropriate Adhoc Committee.

In the query issued by the Auditor General of the Federation which was sustained by the Senate Public Accounts Committee under the leadership of Senator Mathew Urhoghide, it was revealed that the sum of ₦10.460 billion, was appropriated between 2016 and 2017, respectively out of which N5.3 billion and N4.16 billion were disbursed to 52 beneficiaries in two years, leaving a balance of N1.17 billion.

The Auditor General of the Federation observed that the Solicitor General of the Federation offered no detailed explanation on how the balance of N1.17 billion was spent: whether it was returned to the Federation Account or vired by the Ministry.

Both the Auditor General of the Federation and the Senate equally frowned at the disregard for due process as they noted, separately that the Adhoc Committee which was set up on the order of National Assembly to administer the disbursement of Judgement debts was dissolved after the 2013 financial year and was yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations.

They further observed that the Ministry of Justice was doing the disbursement, solely without a Committee in place.

The query read in part:” Examination of Budget of the Federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of ₦460 million was appropriated for the 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 defence, the representative of the Solicitor General, who is the Director of Finance in the Ministry, Modupe Bakare, maintained that the disbursement did not contravene any laid down procedures.

She said: “The Ministry quite appreciate your concern over the disbursement of public funds in order to ensure transparency and accountability. However, it might interest you to note that there is no 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.”

Member of the Senate Committee however kicked against the payment of judgement debts without recourse to the ad-hoc committee set up for the purpose of administering the payment.

A member of PAC, Senator Suleiman Kwari, said the Ministry of Justice, should refund the fund to the Federal government since it violated the laid down procedure.

Senator Urhoghide who is the Chairman of the Committee said that there was no verification as to the authenticity of the disbursement of the N4.1 billion and the status of the balance of N1.17 billion. He warned that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry may be sanctioned for authorising payment.

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In the penultimate week, (March 7 – 13), there were 2,300 cases, a reduction when compared to the 2,817 recorded in the previous week’s (February 28 – March 6)…Judgement debts: Senate summons solicitor general over alleged unilateral disbursement of N4.16bn

Judgement debts: Senate summons solicitor general over alleged unilateral disbursement of N4.16bn