The House of
Representatives Committee on Public Accounts yesterday quizzed officials of the
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife over alleged failure to remit
N4.603
billion in the 2008 financial year.
According to
the lawmakers, the amount represented the personnel cost that was not reflected
in its cashbook at the time of the audit. The committee’s investigation
followed a query by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation, which
was sent to the committee.
The report
had urged the university to either refund the unremitted funds, or have it
deducted gradually from its statutory allocations.The Vice Chancellor, Prof.
Ogunbodede Eyitope, said although he was aware of the allegation, he was unable
to give the details because he was barely three days old in the office.
Eyitope said
the university had been prudent in the management of its financial resources,
as evident in its judicious management of about 32 bank accounts meant for
research works.
He appealed
for more time to enable the school’s management to review the response to the
committee.The committee Chairman, Kingsley Chinda granted his request, but
cautioned against misleading the committee in facts and figures.
He said the
committee was committed to ensuring that government agencies support the
anti-corruption drive of Federal Government. Chinda urged the vice chancellor
to present the institution’s cashbook on July 5, from 2008 to 2012, with
evidence of its retirement and the statements of account of the 32 bank
accounts. Other documents expected from Eyitope are the university’s
appropriations for the period under review and all disbursements made from the
appropriations.
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