Edo state governor, Adams Oshiomole says former Minister of Finance
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala ought to be made to face criminal prosecution in the
ongoing $2.1 billion arms deal probe. In an exclusive interview with
Leadership newspaper, Oshiomole said Dasuki in his defense stated that
Former President Jonathan approved the release of the money for the
purchase of the arms, a claim that has since been denied by Jonathan.Oshiomole said it was criminal of Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala to spend money that wasn't approved by the National Assembly.
“The issue is whether the Nigerian President under the constitution has
the power to approve funds belonging to local, state and federal
government- funds that have not been appropriated by the National
Assembly. That is a criminal offense for which Okonjo-Iweala ought to
face criminal prosecution. These things are just discussed and wished
away.
For me, I will stick for the truth and don’t care what people will
say. Talking about revelation, look at the letter credited to Dasuki –
the immediate past National Security Adviser. In his defence which I
read in your paper, he seems to admit that money was spent but it was
approved by the President. Does the Nigerian constitution empower the
President to spend money which has not been appropriated by the National
Assembly? And they took cash from the CBN.
The Money Laundering Act
says if you take cash in excess of N5 million transaction, it is money
laundering and it is criminal. So, by Dasuki’s letter, he has also
confirmed that Okonjo-Iweala is a privy to spending money never
appropriated and therefore criminal, and that cash were being moved
contrary to the money laundering act. Just using Dasuki’s own defence,
you can see a case of conspiracy has been established between Dasuki,
Okonjo-Iweala and all those involved in that transaction,” Oshiomhole
said.
