Contrary to reports by some publications, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Friday said she had not disowned PriceWaterHouse Coopers, the international audit firm which carried out the recent audit of the alleged unaccounted-for $20 billion crude oil revenue.
A statement from the ministry stated that the forensic audit was actually proposed by Okonjo-Iweala “as the best way to get to the truth following the disagreement (and widely conflicting figures) between former CBN Governor (and current Emir of Kano) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and the NNPC over Sanusi’s allegation of unaccounted funds.”
The statement said her proposal was accepted by President Goodluck Jonathan as well as the Senate, and the President subsequently directed the Auditor-General of the Federation to lead the work.
“The Auditor-General later appointed PwC to carry out the audit. Dr Okonjo-Iweala therefore respects the process which produced the audit. But requesting the audit is of course not the same thing as hiring the auditor. This was why we made it clear in our last press release on the suit filed against Dr. Okonjo-Iweala before a Lagos High Court by SIAO Partners alleging that she appointed PwC. We urge the relevant media to update their information based on this clarification,” said the statement signed by Paul Nwabuikwu, the minister’s media aide.
