Three 'missing' N49 Million Jeeps Have Been Discovered In The Bank Of Agriculture

 

The Managing Director of Bank of Agriculture, Alwan Hassan, was unable to show evidence of the purchase of two Toyota Prado and one Ford Ranger Jeeps worth N49 million meant to monitor the Federal Government's Agricultural Mechanisation Programme during an investigative hearing by the Senate Public Accounts Committee (SPAC).

Senator Matthew Urhoghide chaired the committee, which invited Hassan in response to a question brought by the Auditor-General of the Federation, Adolphus Aghughu, in his 2017 report on the suspected missing Jeeps in the Bank's Kaduna state branch.

However, when the Bank's Managing Director went before the committee to answer questions concerning the missing vehicles worth about N49 million, he was unable to do so.

not show any proof that the automobiles were truly purchased

Hassan merely brought a letter from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture authorizing the money to be taken from the Agricultural Mechanization Fund to purchase the cars.

The parliamentarians were even more surprised by his failure to offer actual evidence that the Jeeps were on the ground.

Senator Urhoghide, the Committee's Chairman, questioned how the MD could have paid for the automobiles without first viewing them.

The Chairman stated that the vehicles were never purchased by the Bank of Agriculture and upheld the Auditor-inquiry. General's

He did, however, order that the money spent on the cars be refunded to the Federation Account right away.

"The Bank spent the sum of N49,026,333.32 from the Agricultural Mechanization Fund particularly designated for lending to operators on other unconnected projects," according to the AuGF's question.

"For example, for the purchase of two Toyota Prado Jeeps, a total of N23,122,095.24 was given to a motor dealer through payment voucher number 0103576 dated September 29, 2015."

"Another motor dealer was paid N25,904,238.08 for the purchase of Ford Ranger Jeeps via payment voucher number 0103579 dated September 29, 2015."

"These acquisitions were ostensibly made as project vehicles for the Agricultural Mechanization Program," according to the report. The Bank's management was unable to justify the selection and usage of these unique vehicles for supervision. During the periodic inspection, the cars were also unable to be produced for inspection.

"The Managing Director should be forced to account for all of the listed motor vehicles or return N49,026,333.32 to the government."