The auditor-general
of the federation (AGF), Mr Samuel Ukura, yesterday described as 'fake'
and 'illegal' several clearance certificates purportedly issued to the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and some ministries, departments and agencies
(MDAs) of the federal government by his office.
The certificates relate to audit queries raised against them over the years and running into several billions of naira.
The AGF made the disclosure yesterday when he appeared before the Hon Solomon Olamilekan Adeola-led House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts over some questionable clearance certificates.
He explained that once a query had been laid before the National Assembly, no officer has the power to issue any clearance again.
According to him, what could happen was that if a query had been raised against any ministry, agency or an organisation and the query had been laid before the National Assembly and additional documentation to defend such a query is tendered and convincing, the AGF would personally write to the parliament with such additional information to advise for the clearance of such a query, but such has not happened in the present case.
He said: "The said clearance certificates are not from me. I have never directed any officer to give any clearance certificate to anybody. I am not aware that such a thing was happening because that is not the normal procedure. Once the audit report had been laid before the parliament, it can never be altered again from our office. If there is additional or fresh information or documentation brought to us - if they are convincing enough, I will have to write to bring such development to the notice of the parliament."
The AGF, however, assured the committee that a thorough investigation would be carried out to fish out all the officials involved with a view to taking disciplinary action against them in line with civil service rules.
The certificates relate to audit queries raised against them over the years and running into several billions of naira.
The AGF made the disclosure yesterday when he appeared before the Hon Solomon Olamilekan Adeola-led House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts over some questionable clearance certificates.
He explained that once a query had been laid before the National Assembly, no officer has the power to issue any clearance again.
According to him, what could happen was that if a query had been raised against any ministry, agency or an organisation and the query had been laid before the National Assembly and additional documentation to defend such a query is tendered and convincing, the AGF would personally write to the parliament with such additional information to advise for the clearance of such a query, but such has not happened in the present case.
He said: "The said clearance certificates are not from me. I have never directed any officer to give any clearance certificate to anybody. I am not aware that such a thing was happening because that is not the normal procedure. Once the audit report had been laid before the parliament, it can never be altered again from our office. If there is additional or fresh information or documentation brought to us - if they are convincing enough, I will have to write to bring such development to the notice of the parliament."
The AGF, however, assured the committee that a thorough investigation would be carried out to fish out all the officials involved with a view to taking disciplinary action against them in line with civil service rules.
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