The Public Accounts Committee of the Senate, on Tuesday, warned Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, the Coordinator of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), that he could face arrest if he does not appear before the committee by February 4.
He is required to address pending issues regarding the utilization of the $360 million allocated for the Ogoni clean-up project.
The committee said Zabbey had disregarded seven earlier summons to appear before it.
The Chairman of the committee, Sen. Aliyu Wadada Ahmed (SDP, Nasarawa-West), while giving the warning at the National Assembly, said by February 4, the panel would “go ahead to explore further legislative measures.”
HYPREP had in November 2023, confirmed the release of $360m for the project.
Ahmed said efforts by the panel to get information on how the funds was utilised had failed so far as the coordinator kept shunning its summons.
Speaking to Senate Correspondents on the matter, he stated, “The Senate Public Accounts Committee, pursuant to its constitutional and legislative powers of ensuring value for money, anchored on the good governance principles of transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, economy, and accountability, commenced inquiry into the activities of Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project under the Federal Ministry of Environment as it regards the Ogoniland clean-up.
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“Concerned, whereas several invitations had been sent to HYPREP to appear and give explanations to issues arising from its submission on the status of its operations, the committee is concerned that the project coordinator has persistently, in the course of the last two years, and flagrantly refused to honour legislative invitations to account for its dealings by turning in very late requests for rescheduling of meetings, which he had refused to attend for 7th time today.
“These dealings or issues which the committee is seeking explanations, border on the following: Explain or give reasons why the project coordinator refused to honour the committee’s invitations.
“Give explanations on appropriations for the project and other intervention funds.
“How much has been received from the federal government. Details of utilisation of appropriations in the 2022 budget.
“An additional sum of N6.6 billion in 2023 for some undocumented contaminated, abandoned sites. Details of utilization of 2024 provisions
“Provide evidence of remittance to the Federal Inland Revenue Service on Value-Added Tax and Withholding Tax for the year 2022 to 2024. General and current state of the Ogoniland cleanup.
“However, in the spirit of liberality, the committee resolves to give up to 4th of February, 2025 for the project coordinator to unfailingly appear before it, or risks activation of relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution to compel him for the required appearance.”
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