No intimidation will stop the alleged TSA fraud, Saraki vows
The President of the Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki, has said that no amount of intimidation will stop the assembly from investigating the alleged N25 billion Treasury Single Account (TSA) fraud.
Saraki was reacting to a motion moved by Sen. Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi West) on Tuesday over a newspaper article allegedly blackmailing the Senate for pointing out the alleged fraud.
He said the assembly would not relent in carrying out its constitutional duties, including pointing out any action that would be detrimental to Nigerians.
“No amount of either blackmail or intimidation will stop us from doing the work we have to do.
“We have a responsibility here to ensure that there are no leakages in government funds and if there are, we will call the attention of the public and do whatever it takes to salvage the situation; it is our responsibility.
“ The fact about the TSA will come out and everybody will have opportunity before the committee to state the fact, the facts will speak for themselves,’’ he said.
Saraki said the assembly would expedite action on the inauguration of Standing Committees to enable it to begin its oversight function fully.
Earlier, Melaye said his attention was drawn to the write-up accusing the Senate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari’s effort to implement TSA.
He expressed concern that the writer could conceive such an idea in spite of the National Assembly’s resolve to work with Buhari in fighting corruption.
Melaye recalled that it was the assembly’s stand on the alleged TSA fraud that led SystemSpecs to refund the one per cent it collected from mopped up funds to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“The writer said we are against the change agenda of Mr President because we raised the abnormality going on with the implementation of the TSA.
“We did not at any time in this Hallowed Chamber implicate President Muhammadu Buhari of being involved in TSA fraud.
“ We will not stop carrying out our legislative duties for fear of being blackmailed.
“The motion moved last week had two prayers.
“The first thing we did was to thank Mr President and commend him for the implementation of the TSA and for anyone to say the Senate is fighting Mr President is myopic, parochial and unacceptable.
“I have a letter here that I am going to lay with this paper, written by the Director, Banking and Payment of CBN to the Managing Director of SystemSpecs.
“The CBN categorically stated that they should remit the one per cent that they collected.
“I also have a letter here by the managing director of that company to the Accountant General of the Federation and the Governor of CBN that have completely buttressed and elicited our decision last week.
“ So for people to blackmail us as irresponsible, it is not acceptable to me and the Senate.
“Never would we allow blackmail and political and economic bigots to destroy the people. We are for the people and we will stand in defence of public interest,’’ he said.
The write-up and letters cited by Melaye were referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition to be returned to Senate in one week.
The Senate had on Nov. 11 raised alarm over alleged payment of N25 billion to one e-collection firm, REMITA, in one day as one per cent of monies transferred to TSA.
It also directed its Committee on Finance, Banking and other Financial Institutions and Public Accounts to carry out a holistic investigation into the matter and report back in two weeks.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
9 Comments
The chemistry of Buhari’s government is becoming better understood by the day. Indulge in arbitrary acts, compromise best practice behind the scene and come out to shout anticorruption. Little old brain
What are the facts about the TSA drama currently playing out? Is it true that the contract was initiated and signed during the last administration? Who are the sponsors of REMITA, Dr Christopher Kolade, Ernest Ndukwe and others with no link to PMB has been mentioned as promoters of REMITA, is the Senate President indirectly alleging that a man of impeccable character like Dr Kolade could be involved in fraudulent activities? Could the banks have made deductions and payment without subsisting contract? We want facts not political drama. The DABO me I TARKA you politics should not be reinvented for personal reasons. The facts as of today is that no company got #25 billion and nobody refunded #25 billion who ever made the allegation LIED. Lets call a spade a spade!
There is no blackmail. All of you seating there are day light robbers. You have nothing to offer to Nigerians but for your own selfish interest and Nigerians does not in any way trust you .
Thank you, jare my brother. Those thieves think everybody is like them. Who is blackmailing who? They think they can use that to blackmail the executive to stop the cct trial. Bunch of idiots.
There is no end in sight. Nigerians are toothless bulldogs. Since we are all divided on ethics and tribal lines and cannot come out massively to follow the footstep of other Arab countries and say no to bad governance we shall continue to be in dark and everything will continue to exclude the youths. The worst are the Governors, Judges, Senator and Assembly members. If the governors are using the federal allocation given to me with the local resources generated, the country will move forward. Nigeria will never and can never be a good country. There is nothing Buhari can do even if he remain the President for a decade.He is in the waiting hands of criminals ruling the nation.
See, that’s why I tell ppl that Buhari is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. A blessing in the sense that he could be a subtle revolution, without the shedding of blood, but a curse bcos his coming will give a soft landing to those criminals. If eventually, they did not allow him to give us a good govt then d Egypt spring may not be 2 far away.
Mr Adesanya, I can tell you that nobody can be bold enough to repeat what happend in Egypt.Nigerians youths are cowards.Both Executives and Legislators will do everything and get out of it.
“Follow footsteps of Arab Countries” ?
AEfula, most Nigerians are not going to go there with you. There are abundant examples all over the world, with regard to good governance and your ideal is the medieval, feudalistic middle east?
We probably do not have shared values and aspirations. That is why the country is failing and will continue to fail.
There cannot be fire without smoke. Any act of corruption at any level, real or perceived must be exposed and due process followed. We are watching….
We will review and take appropriate action.