The Council of State has directed the Anti-corruption Commission to investigate a payment of over $50 million part of 2% and 3% shares of meant to be paid to oil producing states but it has now been discovered that the net was being paid in some cases into the accounts of individuals and business entities.
The report from the National Audit Chamber of South Sudan released on Wednesday denotes that oil producing areas of Ruweng Administrative Unit, Upper Nile and Unity States have been deprived of a sum of $50 million from 2011 to 2020.
The report presented by an Ad-hoc Committee said the payment of over $50 million was made to individuals and business entities by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
“The Anti-corruption Commission should create a file and investigate the misuse of these public funds,” Hon. James Magok Ater, Chairperson for Finance and Economic Development Committee at Council of State told reporters in Juba on Wednesday.
Magok said the entities should pay back the amount they received.
“The individuals and business entities that have taken the money should not only be made to pay back the amount given to them, they should be investigated for possible corruption related crimes.” Ater disclosed.
Ater stressed the need for the Council of State to launch a comprehensive audit on oil funds and to ensure beneficiaries get their percentage of oil share stipulated in the South Sudan Petroleum Act, 2013.
“The Council of State should launch a comprehensive audit examining all aspects of funds, pay beneficiaries and launch full investigation and prosecute those behind the malpractices, if investigations point to possible crimes,” he added.
