Drama as  three exotic Jeeps Purchased to Monitor Agric Programme Missing in Bank of Agric

 

 

By Adekunle Adesuji,Abuja

 

There was a mild drama during the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC) meeting as the Managing Director of Bank of Agric , Alwan Hassan unable to show evidence of purchasing  of two  brand new Toyota Prado Jeeps and Ford Ranger Jeep  for the purpose of monitoring Agric Mechanization  programme.

 

 

The Senate Panel had summoned the Managing Director of Bank of Agric following the query raised  from Office of Auditor General’s in 2017 report on the missing Jeeps in the Bank of Agric in Kaduna .

 

 

However, when the Managing Director of the Bank appeared before the Panel to respond to the query of the missing vehicles worth about N49 million , no document was presented to the members of the Committee to indicate that the vehicles were even purchased.

 

The Managing Director only able to present a letter from Ministry of Agric which mandated him to withdraw money from Agricultural Mechanization  Fund  to procure the vehicles.

 

 

Members of the Committee were shocked as the Managing Director of the Bank was unable to show any concrete evidence that the Vehicles are ion ground.

 

 

Senator Urhoghide wondered how could the MD paid for such vehicles without seeing the vehicles in first instance .

 

The Chairman submitted that those vehicles were never bought by the Bank of Agric and sustained the query of Auditor General against the bank.

 

He also ordered refund of the amount expended for purchase of the vehicles into Federation account.

 

 

 

 

The query reads, “The  Bank  expended  the  sum  of  N49,026,333.32  (Forty-nine  million,  twenty-six thousand,  three  hundred  and  thirty-three  naira,  thirty-two  kobo),  from  the  Agricultural Mechanization  Fund  specifically  meant  for  lending  to  operators,  on  various  unrelated   projects.    For  instance,  the  sum  of  N23,122,095.24  (Twenty-three  million,  one  hundred and  twenty-two  thousand,  ninety-five  naira,  twenty-four  kobo)  was  paid  to  a  motor dealer  through  payment  voucher  number  0103576  dated  29th  September,  2015  for  the purchase  of  two  Toyota  Prado  Jeeps.

 

 

”  Similarly,  the  sum  of  N25,904,238.08  (Twentyfive  million,  nine  hundred  and  four  thousand,  two  hundred  and  thirty-eight  naira,  eight kobo)  was  paid  to  another  motor  dealer  for  purchase  of  Ford  Ranger  Jeeps  vide payment voucher number  0103579 of  29th  September,  2015.

 

 

“These  purchases  were  purportedly  made  as  project  vehicles  for  the  Agric Mechanization  programme.  The  management  of  the  Bank  could  not  justify  the  choice and  the  use  of  these  exotic  vehicles  for  supervision.    The  vehicles  could  also  not  be produced for  inspection  during the periodic check.

 

“The  Managing  Director  should  be  compelled  to  account  for  all  the  stated  motor vehicles,  or  refund to Government  the sum  of  N49,026,333.32.”