ICPC probes multi-million naira fraud in oil industry...Ex-perm sec, ex-PEF boss, account manager for trial

Lanre Adewole, Abuja. - 10.02.2008

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recommended for trial, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Hajia Amuna, immediate past Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Alhaji Abdulkarim Gurin and the Fund’s General Manger (Finance and Accounts), Munir Baba over their alleged indictment in a multi-million naira fraud rocking the PEF management board.

Informed ICPC source disclosed that the suspects were listed for trial after investigations into fraud allegations in excess of N120 million established a case against them.

Sunday Tribune gathered that the commission was petitioned following a discovery that Gurin was still being paid by his successor at PEF months after he had been redeployed to the former Ministry of Petroleum Resources, now Ministry of Energy.

The commission also reportedly established that Gurin, with the active connivance of the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Hajia Amuna, also got paid over N15 million as his monetisation for 2007, “even though he had left PEF since 18th December, 2006”.

With Munir Baba also reportedly playing along, Gurin’s pension fund administration, Sigma Pensions Ltd was paid over N100 million on behalf of the former PEF boss, as five years gratuity.

When contacted, Head, Public and Governmental Relations of PEF, Goddy Nnadi, declined comments on the matter, saying that the alleged fraud had taken place before the current management came on board.

In the final analysis of the ICPC’s investigation, it was established that Gurin was deployed from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, now Ministry of Energy to the Petroleum Equalisation Fund as acting Executive Secretary on 27th October, 1995 and confirmed on 2nd May, 1996.

A presidential directive reportedly saw Gurin back in his ministry on 18th December 2006, though he was said to have finally reported for duty on 21 st December 2006.

The commission’s investigation reportedly established that from the time Gurin reported in the ministry till June 2007, he was still collecting all benefits and allowances as a staff of PEF when there was already another Executive Secretary.

The ICPC’s findings showed that the two Executive Secretaries were paid for the same job done by a single person from December 2006 to June 2007, because Gurin also received all entitlements from PEF until the ICPC was petitioned in June 2007.

A document on the investigation sighted by the Sunday Tribune showed that Gurin’s pension and gratuity were paid to Sigma Pension Ltd, even though he had not retired from public service.

Hajiya Amuna was alleged to have conspired with others and instructed Gurin’s successor-in-office to continue paying him, with Munir Baba of Finance and Accounts reportedly playing along.

The commission’s source stated “conspiracy was established between the erstwhile Executive Secretary, the former Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Hajia Amuna and the General Manager {Finance and Accounts}, PEF, Munir Baba.

“The suspects have contravened the provisions of Section 19, 25 and 26 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. They have been recommended for prosecution accordingly.”