Activist threatens to sue Jonathan over Petroleum minister

An Abuja based activist and a youth leader in the All Progressives Congress from Bayelsa state, Mr. Timi Frank, on Tuesday threatened to drag president Goodluck Jonathan to court over his alleged protection of the Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Deziani Allison-Madueke, from being investigated by the House of Representatives.

Frank, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, therefore demanded the suspension of Allison-Madueke and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, from office to enable the government investigate allegations of financial recklessness leveled against them.

He said, “Recently, during the media chat, President Goodluck Jonathan defended the Minister of Petroleum Resources on the issue of the unremitted $20bn oil fund.

“From what the president said, as far as I am concerned,  no money was missing.  He said if $20bn was missing, the American government will know. After saying that,  he said the government would set up forensic audit on the missing money. What will they audit if no money was missing?”

Frank said the federal government should also let the public know the criteria used in choosing the audit firm that will do the job, who appointed the firm, and whether due process was followed in giving out the job in line with the Public Procurement Act.

He noted  that since no competitive bidding for the audit contract was allegedly announced, the National Assembly must play a role in the choice of this firm because the lawmakers had recommended an independent auditor.

He challenged the federal government to implement the six different panel reports that had indicted the NNPC and the petroleum minister in the past.

He said, “The president must suspend the petroleum minister and the GMD of NNPC if we want to follow the process very well. They cannot be there while the audit is ongoing because they will likely  tamper with the process.

“Beside the federal government suspended the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Sanusi Lamido, so that he will not obstruct the process of investigating the alleged financial recklessness leveled against him.”

Frank wondered why the  president would insinuate that the minister who allegedly spent N10bn on chartered flights within two years was right.

“Why is Jonathan protecting her when Stella Oduah was sacked because she spent N255m to buy two bullet proof vehicles.” He queried.

Frank said his lawyers had been briefed to proceed to court if Jonathan fails to suspend Allison-Madueke and Yakubu within two weeks.