Reps Tell EFCC, ICPC To Summon 2 Ex-Perm Secs Over ‘Missing’ N3.201bn

The House of Representatives has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to summon two former Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministry of Labour, Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, over alleged N3.201 billion financial infraction while in office.

Chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the House, Hon. Bamidele Salam (PDP, Osun), who gave the directive at an investigative hearing on Monday, said the legislative panel had written seven different letters to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment to appear before it without any response and reason.

Salam said the ministry also failed to provide the relevant documents needed to clear them of the 32 audit queries against them from the 2020 audit report.

He said although the Auditor General of the Federation made specific recommendations, the committee decided to write the Ministry, giving them an opportunity to defend themselves, adding that the Minister has consistently refused to honour the invitation.

He said Williams Alo and Yerima Tafa, who were permanent secretaries in the Ministry when the infraction took place, should be held liable for the infraction since they were the accounting officers in the ministry.

The committee also gave the current permanent secretary in the ministry, Saliu Usman, 72-hour ultimatum to appear before it to respond to the seven audit queries from the Auditor General for the 2021 financial year or risk having the committee uphold the recommendations of the Auditor General.

The permanent secretaries in the federal ministries of Transportation, Women Affairs and Humanitarian Affairs, Adeleye Ayodeji, Mariam Keshero and Yakubu Adams Kofan-mata, respectively, are also to appear before the committee within the next 72 hours.

Hon. Salam said the committee was making every effort to address the queries contained in both the 2020 and 2021 audit reports before the 2022 report will be submitted in April.