The Senate on Thursday summoned the Minister of Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, over N15 billion paid into a private unregistered company in 2017.Also invited was the Acting Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Terhembe Nongo, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.The Senate’s summon was as result of the presentation of the Chairman of Committee on Trade and Investment, Rose Oko, while presenting the budget report of the Ministry to the Senate Appropriation Committee.Oko informed the Committee that during the budget defence of the Ministry, she asked the Minister and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry the purpose of the N15 billion in the budget, which they were unable to defend .According to Senator Oko: “When the Minister came for budget defence and the permanent secretary said they didn’t know anything about the issue as it is between Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the company.”She said that the Committee had asked for the shareholding structure from the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, the documents provided did not reveal the identity of the shareholders.Oko said the Committee had requested the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority to give full details of what happened and their response was that the money was allocated to them in 2017 and as at then the company was not in existence.According to her: “We have requested the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority to give full details of what happened and their response was the money was allocated to them in 2017 and as at then the company was not in existence.”Oko told the lawmakers that the money was released in 2017 to the company when it was not yet registered in the Corporate Affairs Commission.The Appropriation Committee however resolved to meet with the Minister, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry and Acting MD of NEPZA on Monday.
