The Edo State Governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, has queried the disbursement of funds for the procurement of
arms for the military under the former Minister of Finance and
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Oshiomhole wondered whether the money
under probe was appropriated for by the National Assembly as stipulated
by the constitution.
He also wondered if an elected President had the powers to spend funds without getting approval from the National Assembly.
The governor made the comment at the
Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference of the Non-Academic Staff Union of
Educational and Associated Institutions in Abuja on Tuesday.
Oshiomhole also asked under what
constitutional provision did Okonjo-Iweala released the funds for the
procurement of arms now under probe.
He wondered if she was not “part of the conspiracy.”
He said, “That money which they claimed
to have used to buy arms, was it appropriated by the National Assembly?
Was it in the Appropriation Act? Did the then President (Goodluck
Jonathan) have the power to spend money that has not been appropriated?
Was he a military head of state? Does he have the powers that he
purported to have used?
“The Minister of Finance who released
the money, under which constitution does the minister have the powers to
release monies from the national treasury that has not been captured in
the national appropriation laws? If she did, is that not part of
conspiracy?”
Oshiomhole also justified the decision
of the Federal Government to prevent the former National Security
Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), from travelling out of the country
on medical ground.
He said that Dasuki had not accounted
for the $2bn he was alleged by the Presidential Arms Probe Panel in its
interim report to have spent on arms procurement under Jonathan.
But Dasuki had said that all the
transactions relating to arms procurement were done with Presidential
approval, insisting also that 12 helicopters and four fighter pilots
which the panel alleged were not supplied were received by the former
Chie of Air Staff, Air Mashal Adesola Amosu (retd.)
Oshiomhole also criticised judges in the
country for allegedly delivering verdicts in favour of the influential
and wealthy people at the expense of the citizenry.
He said that it was in the general interest of Nigerians for all looted funds to be recovered by the current government.
He argued that there were competent
medical doctors who had the professional competence to treat Dasuki who
is facing trial for treason, corruption and other cases.
Speaking also at the event, the
President of the NLC, Mr. Ayuba Wabba, said that the organised labour
had commenced work on a new minimum wage for workers which he said would
be presented to the government soon.
He said that the N18,000 minimum Wage
was due for review as the economic situation in the country and the
devaluation of the naira had serious impact on the Nigerian worker.
Meanwhile, the President of NASU, Mrs.
Ladi Iliya, has called on the Federal Government to ensure the
procurement of modern weapons for the military and other security forces
in the on-going campaign against the Boko Haram.
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