Delta State Government has debunked allegations by Nigeria’s leading anti-corruption campaigner and former member of the House of Representatives, Otunba Dino Melaye, that it mismanaged N9 Billion Excess Crude funds released to the state in December 2012.
Reacting to a purported press briefing by Hon. Dino Melaye, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Comrade Ovuozorie Macaulay in a Press Statement made available to Blank NEWS Online in Asaba, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, said in spending the money, due process was duly followed and every fund accounted for, urging Hon. Melaye to “properly investigate whatever information they get before coming out with allegations that are frivolous.”
The full text of the SSG’s statement reads:
“The attention of the Delta State Government has been drawn to the press briefing by Hon Dino Melaye alleging mismanagement of funds, specifically the N9b excess crude funds released to the state in December 2012.
“It will be recalled that in the last two years, the fund allocation from the Federation has been dwindling. States have therefore been requesting for the release of part of the excess crude fund to deal with outstanding commitments.
“The excess Crude referred to by Dino Melaye came in two tranches of N1,090,380,894.61 and N8,348,064,864.52 on 10th December, 2012.
“Meanwhile the sum of N22,677,938,653.12 was being owed contractors and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) mainly for capital projects. The N9b was therefore used to offset part of this commitment.
“Contrary to the impression given by Dino Melaye that the money was spent in less than three days, payment commenced in mid- December, 2012 and closed at the end of January, 2013 a period of over 6weeks. All the payments were duly budgeted for and due process duly followed.
“It must be noted that the Delta State Government uses the ICT based SAP financial management system which has ensured transparency in our payment system.
“It is on record that many people have complained of the strict payment system by the Delta State Government. This is to ensure proper record keeping and accountability.
“It is well known that the Delta State Government has been pursuing the Delta Beyond Oil Agenda to ensure that in future the State does not have to depend on Federal Allocation alone for survival.
“The Honourable Commissioner for Finance will be addressing the press in the next few days to give details of the financial management system.
“We urge Hon Melaye to properly investigate whatever information they get before coming out with allegations that are frivolous.”
Recall that it was this same Nigeria’s leading anti-graft whistle blower, Otunba Dino Melaye, who exposed the fraud in Abuja airport runway contract of several Billions of Naira when he was in the House of Reps, and also exposed the monumental fraud by Goodluck Jonathan’s Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah.
While Stella Oduah claimed that she spent N255million on two exotic cars, Dino Melaye contacted companies in America and Germany and they told him that the “REAL” cost of those cars is N96million.
