The Presidency and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said they were ready for any probe the incoming administration of President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) would undertake.

The Presidency was responding to Buhari’s resolve to probe the reported Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) missing $20 billion and allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) of last-minute looting of the treasury and rash actions by the outgoing government. It said the party would probe activities of the government especially after the March 28 presidential polls.

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday ordered the immediate release of the report of the forensic audit of the NNPC.

This is coming as a host of eminent Nigerians threw their weight behind Buhari’s plan to probe the NNPC.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor and now Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, was suspended by President Jonathan last year after he alleged that the NNPC failed to remit more than $20 billion of oil revenue to the government.

Addressing State House correspondents, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said the release of the report was to put to rest any doubt about government’s transparency in the oil sector.

According to Abati, the incoming administration of Buhari is free to review all actions and policies of the President Jonathan administration, including revenues and expenditure on projects.

Abati said the President’s decision to order the release of the audit report was to demonstrate that he had noting to hide.

Abati said since President Jonathan also reviewed policies of his predecessors on assumption of office for better understanding and further actions, General Buhari was free to review the President’s policies.

He explained that President Jonathan was deeply concerned by the continuing suggestions that his administration still has anything to hide about the unproven allegation that about $20 billion is unaccounted for by the NNPC during his tenure.

“As Alhaji Lai Mohammed threatened in his statement, the incoming administration will be perfectly within its rights to review all actions of the present government as it may deem fit…To lay the matter to rest, President Jonathan in line with Section 7(2) of the NNPC Act, has directed that the full report of the PWC Forensic Audit of the NNPC accounts be released immediately to the public so that all Nigerians will be properly informed on the matter,” he said.

Read More: vanguardngr