Abuja, Nigeria (PANA) – Nigeria’s embattled Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, secured, on Monday, a court injunction ordering the Nigerian House of Representatives to discontinue its investigation into how she allegedly paid over 10 billion naira of government funds in leasing private jets.
A federal court in Abuja, presided by Justice A. R. Mohammed, restrained the House, its committees or representatives from summoning Mrs Alison-Madueke or requesting that she should produce papers, documents or give evidence relating to the expenditure.
The judge also barred the lawmakers from ordering the minister’s arrest for failing to appear before the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is probing the allegation.
The Minister is accused of spending the 10 billion naira on private jets which she allegedly used for mostly personal trips.
Nigeria’s national oil company – the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) – which is supervised by the minister, has, however, absolved the minister of wrongdoing.
Since her appointment as petroleum minister in 2010, Mrs. Alison-Madueke has been repeatedly investigated by the National Assembly for alleged maladministration, corruption or violation of the law.
She has, on the other hand, drawn praise for ensuring all year-round availability of petrol, a significant achievement.
The latest allegation against Mrs. Alison-Madueke came on March 20, when a member of the House of Representatives, Samuel Adejare, raised a motion accusing her of committing about 500,000 euros monthly to maintain an aircraft for her personal needs and those of her immediate family.
Mr. Adejare said preliminary investigations showed government funds were used to finance the deal.
The chairman of the Nigerian House Committee on Media and Publicity, Alhaji Zakari Mohamed, told journalists that the House of Representatives had been served a notice from an Abuja High Court with an order that it should not proceed with the probe of the Petroleum Minister.
He said the House was left with no option than to wait until it ascertained the legality of the order that conflicted with the powers of the legislature to ensure good governance.
