The Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas has been given a 7 days ultimatum to defend a query concerning an unaccounted sum of N11.5 million before the House of Representatives committee.
Ibas had received the query from the office of the auditor-general which states that the N11.5 million was paid as rent for a four-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos State by the Nigerian Navy.
It was also learnt that the receipt did not show the duration of the rent which is in violation of financial regulations and there was no deduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the payment.
A delegation of the Nigerian navy which was led by the service’s assistant director of budget, Murtala Ahmed had represented Mr Ibas before the committee. The chairman of the committee, Wole Oke (PDP, Osun), had expressed his displeasure over the non-appearance of the Chief of Naval Staff. Oke said;
“If the chief of Naval staff is indisposed to appear before this committee, the least I expect him to do is to send either the Naval secretary or the chief of Naval account and budgets.
“Please this parliament belongs to you. Democracy survives on a tripod, one of which is a very strong and vibrant armed forces. I think the military has done well and fared better under democratic governance.
“We will not accept your appearance. If the Chief of Naval Staff cannot appear, he should send a very senior officer to appear before this committee; he has seven days to appear, within seven days please.”
Source; Tale Tela
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