Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former World Bank vice president has criticized plans by the Minister of Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to conduct a forensic audit of the Federation Account to know whether $20billion oil money is missing or not.

Ezekwezili stated on twitter that a panel of independent experts from various countries and representatives of civil society organizations would do a better job than an audit firm, claiming that those who have mismanaged the oil revenue may try to force the firms to compromise.

“How can officials of the state treat issues of public revenue with such level of cynicism and levity? How did $20billion become so ordinary? “How awful to see some reduce serious conversation on missing $20billion to what Yoruba call ‘Awada kerikeri’. No, this is not comedy. “The depth of distrust of citizens for whatever the Federal Government says on NNPC makes the forensic audit approach unacceptable. Which audit firm? Which?

“The Minister of Petroleum Resources is the chairman of NNPC Board. Her argument in overseeing a mere corporation, usurp the power of appropriation was awful. “Sadly, the Minister of Finance stated that her ministry does not have the expertise to verify the impunity-induced expenditures by NNPC.

“Settling for forensic audit by some recruited firm of auditors will not pass the test of credibility. Issues are too weighty.” “The use of Panel of Independent Experts and Civil Society Organization representatives to investigate serious issues of this kind is global best practice. National Assembly can do same quickly. “Again my earlier advice to the National Assembly is to constitute an independent Panel of diverse technical experts drawn globally plus representatives to scrutinize NNPC.”

She said the international experts will be selected “on the basis of their pedigree that they have been on such service globally. “These experts will be drawn from different parts of the world. In this way, the investigation will not be compromised.”