Diezani jet scandal: Reps to hire aviation expert

Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

The House of Representatives gave indications on Sunday that it would engage the services of an aviation expert to assist in the investigation into the alleged N10bn expenditure on a private jet by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The chartered aircraft is said to be maintained on a bill of 500,000 Euros or N3.120m monthly for Alison-Madueke’s personal use.

A member from Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Adejare, who brought the issue before the House on Thursday last week, had stated that N3.120bn had been spent on the maintenance of the jet in the last two years.

The matter was referred to the House Committee on Public Accounts for investigation.

Investigations on Sunday showed that an aviation consultant would be hired to assist the committee in carrying out the assignment.

“An expert in aviation matters has been contacted by the committee. He is to assist in guiding the committee on technical areas.

“This is to avoid a situation whereby persons appearing before the committee will dwell too much on technicalities or try to confuse committee members,” a National Assembly source confided in The PUNCH on Sunday.

“The secretariat started contacting the committee members on Sunday for the meeting.

“You know, the resolution was passed on Thursday. The next day (Friday) was not a sitting day and some members had already travelled to their constituencies.

“So, Monday is the ideal date for a preliminary meeting to discuss the issue by committee members. It is after the meeting that the format of the hearing will be adopted and decisions will be reached on when to invite stakeholders, including the minister for appearances,” the source added.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the operator of the controversial Challenger 850 jet would be invited to testify before the committee, in addition to top officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Finance.

The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Solomon Olamilekan, confirmed on Sunday that the committee would meet to decide on when to send out invitations.

“We are meeting on that issue; I am calling our members for a meeting,” he added.

Olamilekan also told The PUNCH that the committee would not bend the rules because a minister was involved.

“There is nothing like coming under pressure; we are a committee on public accounts. We are accountable to the public and we say it as we see it.

“It will be an open investigation; therefore, there is nothing to hide in this case,” he added.