His report: “An escort car (Peugeot 504 saloon) was fuelled for N5,500 (250 litres) on January 2, 2001 while the capacity of the fuel tank of Peugeot 504 car is not more than 60 litres when empty, yet the same vehicle was fuelled on three occasions the same day within Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, while the vehicle was still in Abia State on the same day. Similarly, on January 4, 2001, the same volume of fuel for the same amount (N5,500) was purchased from the same fuel station in Abuja into the same escort car the same day.”

A litre of fuel sold for N22 in 2001.

The above is just one of the many discoveries of the AGF of how public officers, particularly civil servants, siphon money from the federal treasury.

According to the 1999 constitution, the Auditor-General of the Federation is the head of the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) and is responsible to the Legislature but also takes directives from and cooperates with the Presidency in matters relating to the audit of government accounts and agencies.

Another channel frequently used to fleece government is through payment vouchers where the AGF said he found irregularities and abuses in the manner out-of-pocket expenses were claimed. The report noted that supporting documents attached to the various payment vouchers revealed so many irregularities.

According to him, “air tickets attached were full of alteration of the routes and fares. Figures were erased and altered and handwritings were super-imposed on one another.”

For bigger cuts, the AGF also said he found that the provisions of the Federal Ministry of Finance Circular Ref. No. F.15775 were usually infringed as follows:

•Non-advertisement of contracts over N10m in value in two national dailies and or government gazette;

•Non-constitution of committee to evaluate bids as envisaged and provided for by the circular on due process and contract procedure; and

•Non-implementation of the 2% Bid Security in form of Bank Guarantee issued by reputable banks in all the contracts awarded by the Ministerial Tenders Board.

Even directives on banking transactions, the AGF said, were flouted with ignominy.
According to him, “in disregard of the Accountant-General of the Federation’s circular (TRY/A3 and B3/2001/OAGF/PRS/005/III/185) dated June 26, 2001, directing that no government establishment should bank with any commercial bank that charges commission on turnover, the commercial bank keeping one ministry’s salary account charged N1,123,101.35 as commission on turnover.”

In the case of another ministry, the Capital Expenditure Cash Book into which 14 payment vouchers raised for various amounts totalling N26,449,279.50 were not produced for audit examination. Similarly, the Recurrent Expenditure Cash Books into which eight payment vouchers raised in two months for amounts totalling N380,568,700.25 were posted, were also not produced for audit examination.

Also, 36 Capital Expenditure payment vouchers for various amounts totalling N708, 313,543.70, raised between January and September of one year were not produced for audit examination, while 95 Recurrent Expenditure payment vouchers for amounts totalling N142,761,615.07 raised in two months, were also not produced for audit examination.

In a specific case, the AGF stated that special imprest for N5,800,000.00 was granted to an officer of Department of Local Government to enable him mobilise residents of Kuje/Abaji Area Councils and the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, and also to purchase T-shirts (with prints) for the welcome ceremony of the visiting Libyan President, Muammar Gaddafi, on payment voucher No. 0103 dated 13th February, 2001.

According to him, “audit investigation revealed that the visit, which was scheduled for February 13 and 14, 2001, was cancelled a day earlier whereas payment voucher was prepared and paid after the cancellation of the visit.

The report observed that the special imprest so collected by the officer was not paid back to chest as stipulated by the Financial Regulation; the special T-shirts were not purchased, rather umbrellas were shown to the audit team as items purchased. This is a gross violation of the Financial Regulations.”

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