Breaking: Again, Reps grill Malami over $2.4bn oil loss

Abubakar Malami

The House of Representatives is currently grilling the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, over the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion unremitted oil revenue.

Malami, in company with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, and Solicitor-General of the Federation, Beatrice Jedy-Agba, is appearing before the House of Representatives ad hoc committee investigating the alleged loss of over $2.4 billion unremitted oil revenue.

The oil revenue is said to be from the illegal sales of 48 million barrels of crude oil export in 2015, including crude oil exports from 2014 till date.

Speaking before the lawmakers on Thursday, May 25, Malami said the investigative hearing by the committee was not necessary because it has nothing to do with his office and personality.

The chairman of the committee, Mark Gbillah, said the AGF was invited in order for him to shed light on topical issues concerning the involvement of his office regarding receipt authorisation and general payment remitted over the subject matter.

Malami had earlier claimed that the matter as raised by the whistleblower leading to his involvement was baseless and lacking in substance.

Reacting, Malami said he was not privy to any documents involving him, adding that the Auditor General of the Federation had not also made documents available to him or his office.

Malami had appeared before the House on April 28, 2023, describing the allegations as baseless, unfounded, and lacking in merit and substance.

He said the office of the AGF had filed a criminal suit against the individuals who purportedly raised the allegations being investigated by the House’s ad hoc committee.

The House had in December 2022 resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to probe the allegation when it adopted a motion sponsored by Isiaka Ibrahim at plenary.

The Star