Two Ex- Ministers to face Rep panel over $155bn CERPAC contracts

By Kassim Omomia

Two former Ministers of Interior , permanent secretary and a retired director- in- charge of Legal Services , all in the Ministry of Interior are to face the House Committee on public Accounts  over a contract  awarded in 1999  for the  establishment of  Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Cards, (CERPAC) scheme by the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS put at $155 billion.

A project initiated by former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration with Continental Transfer Technique Ltd  was aimed at replacing to the paper types of Alien permit card in the 26 States of the Federation.

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts Hon Wole  Oke who handed down the summons during an audit query probe session , said the action followed revelation by  the Management of Polaris Bank on the Tripartite agreement from 2012 – 2020 on the sales of the form  which was put at $1,000 per National and $400 for Students with a  total expected collection figure  of $155 billion till date.

Hon Oke announced that the  former government officials are to appear before the Committee on the audit query raised on the scheme while the Polaris Bank is to show records of the amount generated from the scheme so far and the disbursement ratio.

Meanwhile the Management of an Insurance Company, North link Insurance Brokers PLC have been grilled for providing insurance cover  for two grounded Aircrafts  belonging to the Nigeran Immigration Services.

The unused  14 Seaters Dornier 228-101-5N-AUZ(FER) and 228-101-5N-AUW (FER) Aircrafts were insured at the sum of N198.500 million with a renewal Premium of N13,409,800 paid.  The insurance cover was  2015/2016 Insurance Period.

The Committee expressed worried  when the Head, Technical Department of the Insurance firm, Mr. Nse Uyo Nya told the Committee that his Company only carried out physical inspection on the Two Aircrafts without technical inspection to determine their airworthiness as required by the nation’s Aviation regulations.

When the Committee demanded for the Certificates of the airworthiness of the Aircrafts, Mr. Nya told the Committee that the Pilot of the Aircrafts who was an employee of the Nigeran Immigration Services who was present during the physical inspection only confirmed the airworthiness to him verbally.

According to him, to enable us effect the Cover, we visited Dana Airways Premises, old Kaduna Airport, Kaduna State where the Aircrafts were parked

“We carried out a physical inspection with the help of the Pilot, Kiena who took us round the aircrafts and confirmed to us that the aircrafts are sir worthy and that he just came back from a border patrol with one of the aircrafts.”

At this stage the Committee  doubted   the claims of the of the firm and noted it was unprofessional to indemnify and approve a policy without following due process.

They insisted that with the revelation it was admitted that the Insurance Company received the N13.4 million premium under false pretence, thereby defrauding the Federal Government of the amount.

The committee however, set up a sub Committee to further investigate the matter during which the Committee would interact with the Nigeran Immigration Services, the Nigeran Civil Aviation Authority