ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigerian Senate public accounts committee has indicted the Ministry of Justice, under the leadership of Abubakar Malami, for the irregular disbursement of N10.4 billion that had been allocated as judgment debts.
The committee found that the money had been distributed without following proper procedure.
The indictment follows an audit by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation (OAGF), and was adopted by the committee, which is chaired by Senator Mathew Uhroghide, representing Edo South on Monday, May 15, 2023.
According to the OAGF’s report, the funds, which had accrued as judgement debts between 2017 and 2018, were disbursed without the establishment of a proper committee for oversight. The report noted that the last time such a committee existed was in 2013.
“Examination of the budget of the federal Ministry of Justice revealed that the sum of N460.95 million was appropriated for the payment of judgment debts for 2016 and N10 billion appropriated for 2017, totaling N10.46 billion,” the report reads.
“Further examination revealed that the committee saddled with the responsibility of managing the fund was dissolved after the 2013 financial year and is yet to be reconstituted after the 2016 and 2017 appropriations.”
The report further stated that the Ministry of Justice has been disbursing the large sum without a proper committee in place, a practice that could lead to significant financial losses for the federal government.
The Senate, in response to the findings of the OAGF, has called on the Ministry of Justice to halt these payments immediately and to establish a panel to oversee these funds properly. It is unclear at this time what steps the Ministry of Justice will take in response to the indictment.
“The federal government stands to lose significant funds meant to pay judgment debts if this practice is allowed to continue,” Senator Uhroghide said.
“We urge the Ministry of Justice to take swift action to rectify this situation and ensure transparency and adherence to due process in the disbursement of these funds.”
