N7.5bn ‘secret’ withdrawal: Senate summons Finance Minister, Accountant-General

The second N3.7bn, the report said, was withdrawn between March-December 2000 in three separate payments of N725m, N1bn and N2bn.

N7.5bn ‘secret’ withdrawal: Senate summons Finance Minister, Accountant-General

The Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Ahmed Idris

The Senate Committee on Public Accounts Wednesday summoned the Minister of Finance, Ahmed Zainab and the Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, over the secret withdrawal of N7.5bn from the account of National Automotive Design and Development Council domiciled with Central Bank of Nigeria.

The first N3.8bn was withdrawn in two installments of N2.8bn in 2005 and N1bn in 2006, according to the report of the Auditor-General for the Federation being considered by the Senate committee, chaired by Senator Matthew Urhoghide.

The second N3.7bn, the report said, was withdrawn between March-December 2000 in three separate payments of N725m, N1bn and N2bn.

When the committee asked the Director-General of the agency, Jelani Aliyu, about the withdrawal, he said the money was withdrawn without the knowledge of the agency.