THE NATION

N50b police fund probe must go on, says House    11/2/2008

The co-ordinator of PEF, Mr Kenny Martins, has declined an invitation to appear before the committee. Maduabum told The Nation on phone last night: "Since public funds are involved, we have a duty to follow such. We are open on this issue. It is not a personal issue. We are going ahead with the public hearing on Wednesday."

He said the inquiry was necessitated by a petition that government funds had been illegally transferred by the co-ordinator of PEF.

"If Martins has any complaint, he should come to the public hearing to present same. Then, we will look at the merit of what he is saying," Maduabum added.

Besides, The Nation at the weekend stumbled on a document listing some likely donors to the controversial fund, which is believed to have been squandered on cars and other gifts for some individuals and organisations. The likely donors are mainly airlines.

Martins had through his lawyer Wemimo Ogunrinde, in a February 4 letter to the Speaker, challenged the constitutionality of the invitation on the grounds that "there was no resolution published in the National Assembly journal or the Federal Government Gazette directing an investigation.

"That the Police Equipment Foundation is not a person, authority, ministry or government department charged with the duty of executing any laws enacted by the National Assembly or disbursing or administering money appropriated by the National Assembly.

"That the purpose of the investigation is not for the purpose of making law with respect to any matter or correcting any defect in existing laws," Martins said.

Maduabum’s insistence on Martins appearance is hinged on Section 89 (1) which empowers the House of Representatives or a committee appointed by the House to "procure all such evidence, written or oral, direct or circumstantial, as it may think necessary or desirable, and examine all persons as witnesses whose evidence may be material or relevant to the subject matter."

The chairman explained that the case which Martins referred to as pending in court was purely between him (Martins) and a petitioner, adding that it was not the subject matter of the investigative hearing of this committee.

The committee was specifically mandated through a resolution of the House to investigate the matter with a directive to report back to the plenary.

On the claim that Martins had earlier appeared before two other committees of the House over the same matter, Maduabum said: "This investigation was referred to us via a resolution at the plenary session of the House and we will take it back to the plenary."

The Chairman explained that the two other committees cited by Martins as having looked into the same issue did so not with the resolution of the whole House.

Some foreign airlines and corporate organisations who were approached for money by the Presidential Committee on Police Equipment Fund (PCPEF) would have to explain to the committee the exact amount paid into the committee’s account.

A letter addressed to the managing director of a commercial bank by the Deputy Chairman of PCPEF, Prince Ibrahim Dumuje, gave the list of the airlines and corporate bodies and the amount pledged as follows: North American Airline (N100 million); Virgin Atlantic Airline (N100m); Middle East Airline (N100m); KLM Royal Dutch Airline (N100m) and Kenyan Airline (N50m).

They also include Ethiopian Airline (N50m); Emirate Airline (N100m); British Airways (N100m); Al Italia Airways N100m; Air France (N100m); Afriquyah Airline (N100m); Egypt Airline N50m and Iberia Airline N50m.

Others are: Obat Nigeria Ltd (N100m); Moni Polu Ltd N100m; Jagal Ventures (N100m); Samsung Nigeria Ltd (N100m); Vetco Gray Nigeria Ltd (N100m); Baroid Nigeria Ltd (N100m); Hyundai Nigeria Ltd (N100m); United Geophysical Nigeria Ltd (N100m); Santafe Operation Nigeria Ltd (N100m) and Owel Holdings Ltd (N100m).

Members of PCPEF are at loss as to why the Federal Government still allows Martins to operate the committee’s bank accounts after transforming into an NGO – the Police Equipment Foundation.

One of them, Dr (Mrs) Lim Olisa, who spoke to The Nation on phone, said the least expected of the government was to frozen the accounts; audit them and ask Martins to render the account of his stewardship as co-ordinator.

Olisa said there was no resolution by PCPEF members to transform into an NGO. It was the decision of Martins’ and his deputy Dumuje, he said.