By Nathaniel Zaccheaus, Abuja
The Senate is currently investigating the N210m allegedly paid without vouchers and internal audit checks at the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research in Benin, Edo State.

The Senate Public Accounts Committee was doing so based on the 2017 report of Office of Auditor General of the Federation to unravel the alleged illegality in the Institute.

However, the acting Executive Director of NIFOR, Celestine Ikuenobe, told the Senate panel on Thursday that the reason the Institute could not provide the vouchers was because of sabotage by some staff who showed divided loyalty.

He explained that there was crisis in the Institute when the officials of AuGF came for the auditing at the Institute.

He said the members were divided among themselves and this led to a lot of damages at the Institute.
The acting Executive Director nevertheless presented vouchers of about N110m for vetting.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Matthew Urhoghide, said the acting Executive Director should go and look for all the missing vouchers in the Institute within one week.

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The query read, “Four hundred and twenty-three payments totalling N210,921,849.66 were made without payment vouchers and internal audit checks, contrary to Financial Regulations 601 and 1705

“The regulation stipulates that all payments must be vouched for, and the head of internal audit unit in all Ministries/Extra-ministerial offices and other arms of government shall ensure that100 per cent pre-payment audit of all checked and passed vouchers is carried out and the vouchers forwarded under security schedule direct to the appropriate central pay office for payment.

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“The Executive Director’s response vide Ref. No. OAuGF/EIAD &SD/FMARD/NIFOR/2018/2 dated 30th April 2018, claimed that no payment was made without raising payment voucher and advised that the vouchers in question be attached.

“The Executive Director failed to address the issues raised. Recommendation Sanctions as contained in Financial Regulation 3106 should be invoke.

“The Executive Director is required to recover the sum of N210,921,849.66 to Consolidated Revenue Fund and forward evidence for my confirmation.”