FCT Councils’ N100bn Scandal: Reps Issue Arrest Threat Over Audit Bombshells

By Linda Ike

The House Public Accounts Committee has summoned chairmen and finance directors of all six FCT Area Councils, Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali after an Auditor-General’s report exposed over N100 billion in financial infractions, including N7.65 billion in unremitted taxes, pensions, and VAT as of 2021.

The 2021 audit flagged failures to update Fixed Asset Registers like Gwagwalada’s N336 million in untracked assets and N24.87 billion in unexplained 2021 spending up 89% from 2020, with 37% of capital project funds unaccounted for; AMAC led liabilities at N2.19 billion.

Later probes for 2022-2023 revealed understated IGR, illegal asset sales, and non-remitted withholdings, plus zero financial submissions for 2023-2025.

Chairman of the committee, Bamidele Salam declared the February 11 appearance a final opportunity, vowing: “Failure to honour the invitation would compel the House to invoke its constitutional powers to order their arrest.”

He insisted public funds demand transparency and prudence, with culprits facing full legal reckoning.