The Rivers State Ministry of Finance has refuted recent news report on the purported disappearance of $10m from the coffers of the state government through the inflation of the acquisition cost of the states aircraft – Bombardier Jet-BD-700 Global Express.
The ministry described such allegation as a “figment of the imagination” of those desperate to splotch the achievements of Gover Rotimi Amaechi’s administration, saying the $45m cost of the said aircraft was ratified by both the Executive and the Legislature.
“The Ministry of Finance hereby categorically states that no such fund has disappeared. In debunking this spurious allegation we state very clearly that based on available facts and verifiable records the cost of the aircraft acquired by the state government in 2012 was $45M (excluding other applicable charges and fees),” Press Officer at the state’s Ministry of Fiinance, Mr. N. S. Vincent wrote.
“This sum was duly approved by His Excellency the Executive Governor Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi and mandated for release accordingly, after prior authorization by the Rivers State House of Assembly.
“Our payment and accounting record clearly buttresses and substantiates these assertions. To suggest that such a transaction was inflated in other to misappropriate state funds is simply a figment of some imagination concocted to tarnish the stellar performance and diminish the achievements of this administration.”
He argued that it is irrefutable that the current administration has utilized resources at its disposal judiciously and remains very transparent in its operation of financial activities in an accountable manner.
“Our system of accounts and financial transactions in the state is based on very rigorous approval and disbursement process,” he added. “Hence it is unthinkable and practically impossible that the state government, through the Ministry of Finance will perpetrate blatant looting of public funds that has characterized some previous administrations in the country.”
He reiterated that the reports on missing funds are “mere false allegations spurred by the current media frenzy” and nothing can be farther from the truth, adding that the ministry and the administration both stand ready to “vigorously defend and debunk this malicious and unfounded news stories to the end.”
