REVEALED: How Nigerian Embassy In Israel Squandered N332m, $493,111, During Jonathan’s Tenure

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A report in Nigerian authoritative online newspaper, PREMIUM TIMES has revealed how Nigerian embassy in Israel mismanaged funds totalling $493, 111 and another N331 million (N331,461,392) of the total revenue generated and received between 2013 and 2015.

The findings which the newspaper said was from a review of an audit report by the Auditor-General of the Federation for the year ended 2015, said the embassy could not account for the funds in its records submitted for review.

The newspaper reports that a total sum of $858,704 (3,091,337 Shekels) was reportedly generated as revenue in respect of visas and administrative charges in the period under review, but only $365, 593 was remitted into the designated account, the report, the latest from the Auditor General revealed.

According to the report, during the period of which former President Goodluck Jonathan was in power, the embassy was granted Authority to Incur Expenditure, AIE, in the sum of N517,247,500.

However, only N185, 786, 171 was accounted for by the embassy.

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The report noted that this development has left the embassy with a deficit of $493, 111 and N331, 461, 392 which the permanent secretary ‘was unable to explain.’

Further details in the report, shows that between 2013 and 2015, $187, 554 (675,196 shekels) was transferred from revenue to overhead accounts as revealed in the revenue cashbooks.

The amount was said to have been borrowed from the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, account for the period but was never paid back.

It was observed in the audit report that the embassy fell short in keeping account of revenue, disbursement of funds and record keeping thereby aiding corruption within its ranks.

Between 2013 and 2015, about 64 per cent of N517,247,500 total grants remitted as AIE by the Nigerian government to the embassy was unaccounted for.

According to records, the sum was for capital, personnel and overhead costs and was reportedly remitted into one account for the period as follows: 2013: A/C No.218648/91 located at Gordon Street and 2014/2015: A/C 223701/15 located at Allenby Street.

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However, only N185, 786, 171 was accounted for in the verification of AIEs extracted from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the remaining N331,461,392 was neither found in the account of the embassy nor recorded. No explanation was also offered.

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