Senate prevents probe of Buhari’s finance minister over multi-billion-dollar gas project
By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Abuja
The Senate yesterday initiated the process to investigate the gas supply contract agreement awarded to a private firm, Acugas Limited, during the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.
The red chamber, however, shielded the immediate past finance minister, Zainab Ahmed from being probed over the deal.
This was sequel to a motion moved by Aniekan Bassey (PDP, Akwa Ibom) at the plenary presided over by Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.
Bassey’s motion claimed that, in 2017, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) entered into an agreement with Acugas Limited for the supply of Gas to Calabar Generation Company Limited, (Calabar Genco).
The Akwa Ibom Senator said that the agreement on the gas supply contract was that the federal government will commit over $10 million monthly to Acugas Limited for the supply of gas to the Calabar Generation Company Limited.
He noted that the agreement on gas supply to the Calabar Genco was coordinated by former Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.
He said the huge sum of money committed to the supply of gas to the Calabar Genco has become a major concern to the public because the agreement and payment methods for the project were not transparent.
Bassey, therefore, urged the Senate to mandate its committee on Power when constituted to probe and unravel the parties involved in the gas supply, payments made so far, the status of the gas supply agreement, and interrogate all authorities involved in the project.
He also prayed to the Senate to urge the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to ensure due diligence in the preparation and execution of transaction agreements with companies and stakeholders involved in the gas supply agreement.
The Deputy Senate President, who presided over the plenary, granted prayers of the motion to mandate the Senate Committee on Power when constituted to probe the gas supply agreement and ensure due diligence on the transaction of the gas supply agreement.
The Senate, in a unanimous decision kicked against the invitation of the immediate past finance minister on the excuse that she did not act on her authority.
The red chamber said the next finance minister in Bola Tinubu’s administration should be invited for questioning since the government is a continuum.
