Nigeria loses $9bn to illegal mining in 2 years – FG
Maina probe: Malami responds to incriminating evidence
The Federal Government yesterday said in 2014 and 15, Nigeria lost about $9billion to illegal mining.
The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, who addressed State Attorney General of the Federation(AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami has responded to allegations against him in the ongoing Senate’s probe into the return and promotion of the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension Reforms, Abdulrasheed Maina.
Daily Trust gathered that Malami, who appeared before the probe panel chaired by House reporters after the cabinet meeting, quoted a report released by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative.
The minister said the loss was from such illegally exported items as gold, lead, zinc, tin and coal.
He said if the country Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP, Bayelsa) yesterday presented his defence to the committee.
Malami appeared before the panel around 4.30pm and was grilled for an hour before he was let go. This was the third time he would be appearing. He appeared twice last week.
Plain clothes security personnel in the company of the AGF barred our correspondent from getting reaction of the country’s chief law officer.
A source told our could stop the spate of illegal activities by Nigerians and their foreign collaborators, the revenue from the sector would significantly improve.
He said the Federal Executive Council approved N987million for the procurement of 50 Hilux vehicles to enable the special mines taskforce correspondent that the response of Malami has been given to all members of the panel.
“We have been given his responses on the three correspondences. We will study it and have a review meeting next week. It is after it that we will decide whether he should reappear before us or not,” the source said pleading anonymity.
At the end of the meeting, our correspondent saw members of the panel including Senator David Umaru (APC,Niger) and monitor and curb illegal mining activities in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Fayemi said each vehicle would be purchased for N19.3 million. He said: “The Special Mines Surveillance Task Force is made up of all security agencies. Andi Uba (APC, Anambra) with documents.
Our correspondent had on Friday reported that three incriminating evidences have been received against Malami. The investigation, sources said has been lowered down to the AGF, hence his series appearances
The Senate had on October 24, this year resolved to probe the scandal following a point of order by Senator Issah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi) on the issue.