The Senate has summoned Godwin Emiefele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Kemi Adeosun, Minister of Finance; and Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Defence, to explain the “unlawful withdrawal” of $462 million from the Federation Account.
The summons resulted from a point of order raised by Sam Anyanwu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, who said the withdrawal was made without legislative approval as required by law.
To back up his motion, Anyawu referred to Section 80 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which prohibits the withdrawing of money from the federation’s “consolidated revenue fund or an other public fund” without prior consent of the National Assembly or in the manner prescribed by it.
He submitted that the CBN Governor and the ministers of finance and defence should be summoned for appropriate questioning.
“Mr President, I have it on good authority that in March 2018, a whooping sum of $462 million was withdrawn from the federation account and paid for helicopters to an American firm called Helicopter Tecno Fights Helicopters and this was done without the approval of the Senate,” he said.
“As a citizen, senator of this place, I want to find out how this thing was done and I suggest that we invite the CBN governor, the Ministers of Finance and Defence to tell us how this money was withdrawn and paid to an American companu without the approval of the Senate.”
The Senate then referred the matter to the Committee on Appropriation to summon the trio and investigate the allegation. It also told the committee to submit its report to the house within a week.
'Kunle works with The ICIR as an investigative reporter and fact-checker. You can shoot him an email via aadebajo@icirnigeria.org or, if you're feeling particularly generous, follow him on Twitter @KunleBajo.