ABUJA – By Olusegun Lawrence. The Joint Senate Committee on Aviation and Anti-corruption was told on Monday, how businessman and Chairman of the defunct Air Nigeria, Jimoh Ibrahim, diverted the N35 billion aviation intervention fund released to him.
Former Director of Finance and Accounts of Air Nigeria, Mr John Nnorom, told the committee that the Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim diverted the fund to Ghana for another project the same day the money hit the company account with the United Bank for Africa, UBA.
The joint committee, which is investigating the disbursement of N500 billion Power and Aviation intervention fund is chaired by Senator Hope Uzodinma.
At the investigative hearing on Monday, Mr John Nnorom revealed that Mr Jimoh Ibrahim was working with the United Bank for Africa (UBA).
According to him, prior to getting the funds, Mr. Ibrahim brought in UBA as part of Directors of Air Nigeria and surprisingly the very day that the sum of N35 billion hit accounts of Air Nigeria current account domiciled with UBA, that same day it was diverted to Ghana.
His words, “Distinguished Senators, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) knows what they were doing with the missing N35 billion Aviation intervention funds.”
Responding to questions, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said that though the fund was released in the name of Aviation, it did not pass through the Ministry of Aviation and there was no record to show.
Amaechi said, “Distinguished Committee Chairmen, members, my job here is to watch proceedings because I know nothing about about it and there is no record showing how the funds was disbursed.”
Earlier in his welcome address, Senator Uzodinma, made a shocking revelation that most of the airlines benefited from N120 billion intervention fund have become moribund.
“That is why it is a very disturbing development to learn of allegations there monies were not properly utilized for the stated objectives. These allegations are just absurd but shocking. We are here to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of such allegations of misappropriation or diversion of the said funds,
“As is normally the rule in any investigation we hold nobody guilty unless it is proven beyond all reasonable doubts that he or she is guilty unless proven beyond all reasonable doubt that he or she guilty.
“Curiously however, from the list of beneficiaries of funds, some of the airlines have long folded up.”
Prompt News Online recalls that the Federal Government in 2011 released N120 billion through the Central Bank of Nigeria as intervention fund to rescue the sector from total collapse.
