Corruption continues to thrive at Villa Somalia under President Hassan Sheikh. If the president isn’t auctioning off Somali embassies owned real estate in prime EU markets, he is going after due to Somalia uncollected air navigation fees, and it is now alleged that NAVPASS, a President Hassan Sheikh owned and Dubai, UAE registered company is appointed as the collection agent to go after due to Somalia unpaid air navigation fees. NAVPASS was first registered in Somalia on 22 Feb 2024 and subsequently in Dubai about a month ago on 18 July 2024 .
According to various unverified reports, with an estimated unpaid fees amounting to about $30 million, NAVPASS will earn a commission of 40% from its collection efforts and is expected to pocket at least $12 million in net commissions.
MP Abdullahi Hashi Abib upon learning of this latest attempt to swindle public funds has written to the Minister of Transportation and Civil Aviation and warned of a “Potential Breach of Sovereignty.” MP Dr. Abib warned, “The transfer of control over aviation-related fees to an entity registered in a foreign country could be construed as a breach of Somalia’s sovereignty. The management of such critical national revenue should fall under the purview of Somalia’s public institutions, subject to rigorous oversight and compliance with national laws. The current arrangement may undermine the sovereignty and financial independence of Somalia, exposing the nation to undue external influence.”
MP Abib also raises the question of why the Treasury Single Account (TSA) isn’t being utilized as the deposit account for all government revenues from taxes, fees, grants, or other income as mandated by law. “The TSA is the only lawful repository for government revenues, effectively prohibiting the use of any alternative accounts,” writes MP Abib.
ANOTHER DAY AT VILLA SOMALIA AND ANOTHER CORRUPTION CASE
MP Abib on President @HassanSMohamud‘s newly minted collection company for unpaid Somalia air navigation fees: “The gravity of this issue cannot be overstated. It is imperative that these officials be held to account for… https://t.co/45JtNBPH5l
— Daljir Media (@radiodaljir) August 24, 2024
MP Dr. Abib, in light of what he called grave concerns, then requested “that the Transportation and Finance Committees convene an emergency session to immediately summon the Minister of Transportation, the Director General of the Somalia Civil Aviation Authority, and the Minister of Finance. These officials must be subjected to a rigorous and comprehensive inquiry to determine the extent of their involvement in the authorization of this apparent legal transgression, which constitutes a direct and unequivocal violation of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and related statutory provisions governing the management and oversight of public funds.”
Contributed to by Daljir staff in Garoowe and Nairobi
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