N2bn Private Jet Spending: CLO Gives Minister One Week To Respond To Allegations

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in Bayelsa State has challenged the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to clear the air on recent allegations that she squandered two billion naira on flying private jets in two years. According to the CLO, though the petition on the claim of wasteful spending is before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the civil society groups in the state feel concerned and demand an explanation within one week. In a statement issued in Yenagoa and signed by its state chairman, Chief Nengi James, CLO said the need for Mrs. Alison-Madueke to respond to the charges against her was to ensure that her alleged involvement in corrupt practices would not destroy the advocacy for the passage of the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) or scuttle President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2015 ambition. According to the CLO, “We expected her to use her good office to ensure the passage of the PIB and not frivolous spending.

“We knew that the move to ensure the passage of the PIB would attract attacks on her person. We were not expecting such level of fraudulent spending. To save the PIB bill, the CLO will want to insist that she explain her involvement within a week.”