The immediate past Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
illegally approved the transfer of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million
and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha,
to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks
to the 2015 presidential election.
According to Premium Times, the former Minister signed off on the transfer but then closed her eyes to how the funds were spent, requesting then President, Goodluck Jonathan to directly demand accountability from Dasuki, according to documents seen by Premium Times.
The funds were never appropriated before they were transferred, a clear violation of Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility law.
A letter signed by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, showed that 50% of the recently recovered Abacha loot was allotted for “urgent security need” such as the procurement of arms and ammunition while the other half was set aside to be used for development purposes.
The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to Goodluck Jonathan revealed that the money was transferred following a January 12, 2015 request by the office of the NSA under Dasuki for funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment.
Mrs Okojo-Iweala wrote:
According to Premium Times, the former Minister signed off on the transfer but then closed her eyes to how the funds were spent, requesting then President, Goodluck Jonathan to directly demand accountability from Dasuki, according to documents seen by Premium Times.
The funds were never appropriated before they were transferred, a clear violation of Nigeria’s fiscal responsibility law.
A letter signed by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, showed that 50% of the recently recovered Abacha loot was allotted for “urgent security need” such as the procurement of arms and ammunition while the other half was set aside to be used for development purposes.
The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to Goodluck Jonathan revealed that the money was transferred following a January 12, 2015 request by the office of the NSA under Dasuki for funds for the procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment.
Mrs Okojo-Iweala wrote:
“Please find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA)
for the transfer of $300 million and £5.5 million of the recovered
Abacha funds to an ONSA [Office of the National Security Adviser]
operations account,
“The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat.
“His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund).”
She added that the letter was to seek Jonathan’s approval for the funds to be disbursed to the ONSA. The former minister further explained that the money being transferred formed part of the Federal Government Independent Revenue.
However, instead of insisting on overseeing how the disbursed funds were spent, as the country’s chief financial officer, she abdicated her responsibility, expecting and asked Dasuki to account directly to Jonathan.
“This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds, for now, to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the projected Federal Government Independent Revenue, to be appropriated, in the light and for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds,” she concluded.
In a January 30, 2015 letter, Jonathan approved the transfer.
This latest disclosure appears to have vindicated Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who last week called for the prosecution of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala for transferring funds that were not appropriated.
The governor stated that neither the president nor the minister has power to unilaterally transfer funds that were not appropriated by the National Assembly.
He therefore argued that Jonathan and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala should be charged alongside Dasuki, Dokpesi and Bafawara for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for arms procurement.
“The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing Boko Haram threat.
“His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund).”
She added that the letter was to seek Jonathan’s approval for the funds to be disbursed to the ONSA. The former minister further explained that the money being transferred formed part of the Federal Government Independent Revenue.
However, instead of insisting on overseeing how the disbursed funds were spent, as the country’s chief financial officer, she abdicated her responsibility, expecting and asked Dasuki to account directly to Jonathan.
“This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds, for now, to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the projected Federal Government Independent Revenue, to be appropriated, in the light and for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your Excellency for the utilisation of the funds,” she concluded.
In a January 30, 2015 letter, Jonathan approved the transfer.
This latest disclosure appears to have vindicated Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who last week called for the prosecution of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala for transferring funds that were not appropriated.
The governor stated that neither the president nor the minister has power to unilaterally transfer funds that were not appropriated by the National Assembly.
He therefore argued that Jonathan and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala should be charged alongside Dasuki, Dokpesi and Bafawara for allegedly misappropriating funds meant for arms procurement.
Source: Premium Times
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