$2bn Arms Deal: Oshiomhole Queries Okonjo Iweala

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Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole has questioned the role played by former Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in the contentious $2.1 billion arms procurement deal for which former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) is facing trial.

Oshiomhole wondered how such a gargantuan amount of money could have made its way out of the nation’s coffers if it was not approved by the National Assembly.

Wondering if Okonjo-Iweala was in the loop, Oshiomhole questioned the constitutional provision under which she approved the disbursement of the said money.

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?”

Source: The Herald