Naval Chief On Fire As House Of Reps Gives 7 Days Ultimatum To Explain Unaccounted N11.5m Used For Rent

Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas, is currently on fire as the house of representatives committee on public accounts gives him seven days ultimatum to appear before the house and explain N11.5 million unaccounted for by the Navy.

The summoned followed by a query from the office of the auditor-general which said that N11.5 million was paid as rent for a four-bedroom apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos State by the Nigerian Navy.

According to the query, the duration of rent was not attached, also the deduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the payment was absent, which violates financial regulations.

The chairman of the committee, Wole Oke (PDP, Osun), was forced to issue a seven days ultimatum after the Naval boss failed to appear before the committee on Monday.

A delegation of the navy which was led by the service’s assistant director of budget, Murtala Ahmed, represented Mr. Ibas, a vice admiral, instead.

However, Mr. Oke was displeased with the non-appearance and his failure to write the committee, stating why he could not appear in person.

He said:

“If the chief of Naval staff is indisposed to appear before this committee, the least I expect him to do is to send either the Naval secretary or the chief of Naval account and budgets,”

“We will not accept your appearance. If the Chief of Naval Staff cannot appear, he should send a very senior officer to appear before this committee; he has seven days to appear, within seven days please,” Mr. Oke added.