by Akan Ido

There are indications that the minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke may have been using and maintaining a third chartered plane besides the two she has been accused of utilizing on her local and international commute.

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts led by Solomon Olamilekan are currently investigating the alleged expenditure of about N10 billion by the minister to charter planes at the expense of Nigerian taxpayers.

Sources, however say that the committee is under intense pressure to soft-pedal on the allegations levelled against the minister.

The Olamilekan-led committee is  investigating the expenditure of  N10bn on a Challenger 850 chartered and maintained for the minister’s use. A source disclosed that a return trip on the Global Express XRS to London for example, gulped €600,000 or N137m.

According to a lawmaker who spoke to the Punch, several people outside the House of Assembly seem to bee of the opinion that the House is embarking on a witch-hunt against the minister – an allegation which he denies.

“At a point on Tuesday, the pressure became unbearable. I think people are beginning to think that the House is embarking on a witch-hunt. But that is not the idea.

“We are doing our constitutional duty to expose corruption wherever it exists.

“If at the end of the day, the investigation proves that it was justifiable for a minister to spend billions of naira to charter aircraft, so be it.”

Efforts to get key  members of the committee to comment on the alleged pressure proved unsuccessful.

Olamilekan neither replied enquiries made by reporters on Wednesday.

When contacted, the spokesman for the House, Mr. Zakari Mohammed, said it would be inappropriate for the House to speak on a matter it had referred to its committee for investigation.

“The matter is before the committee”, he said.

The committee is, however, yet to decide when to invite the minister to defend the allegations levelled against her on the use and maintenance of the said jets.