Fashola faults Dino Melaye’s corruption allegations
- The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, says there is no factual basis for the allegations of corruption brought against him by Senator Dino Melaye
- He states that he will collaborate fully with the Senate investigating committee when called upon
- The minister says he was not a minister in 2013, during the period which the senator claimed the alleged fund mismanagement took place
The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, has described allegations of corruption raised by Senator Dino Melaye against his ministry as unverified allegations.
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Fashola in a statement said there was no factual basis for the allegations and exonerated the minister of power from doing anything wrong, Premium Times reports.
He, however, stated that he will collaborate fully with the Senate investigating committee when called upon.
The minister pointed out that he was not a minister in 2013, during the period which the senator claimed the funds were received.
He also stated that his ministry is not responsible for managing government debt like Eurobond.
“The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) had on Monday, 6th November 2017 issued a statement on the front page of The Nation Newspaper explaining that the money was not missing, stating also that the $350 million had been invested and that interest had even accrued on the money,” he said.
“If there was no ulterior motive for the allegation, this was enough reason for a reconsideration of the presentation of the motion on the floor of the Senate on the 8th of November 2017.
“But the story seemed to have changed from missing money last week, to a desperate attempt to retrieve the money , this week.”
Fashola stated that the Afam Fast Power project which the senator accused his ministry of spending $35 million without appropriation and feasibility study was first commenced by a US firm, General Electric, to boost power supply in the country.
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Meanwhile, an investigation by the Senate into the alleged plan by the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to secure the release of $350 million domiciled with the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority to finance electricity projects, has begun.
The upper legislative chamber began the investigation on Wednesday, November 8, following a motion by Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi west), which was titled: ‘Monumental Fraud in the Power Sector.’
Legit.ng gathers that the lawmakers chided the ministry which is headed by Babatunde Fashola, for allegedly spending $35 million out of the money on power projects without getting the approval of the National Assembly.
Bukola Saraki, Senate president, noted that the upper legislative chamber had previously raised the issue concerning the power sector; and stated that it was time for a review of the law establishing the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority.
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Source: Legit.ng
