The Senate
has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin
Emiefele; the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the Minister of Defence,
Mansur Dan-Ali after they allegedly withdrew $462 million for helicopters from
the Federation Account without the approval of the Senate.
The summon followed a point
of order raised by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and
Privileges, Sam Anyanwu who said a whooping sum of $462 million was withdrawn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.
This was done without the
approval of the Senate.
Senator San Anyanwu told
the house:
“Mr President, I have it in
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withdrawn from the federation account and paid for helicopters to an American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.
“And I know there was no
such request from the Senate.
“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this money was withdrawn and paid to an American company without the approval
of the Senate.”
Mr Anyanwu made reference
to section 80 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits anyone from
withdrawing money from the Federation Account without the consent of the
National Assembly.
Mr Anyawu demanded that the
trio be summoned before the committee on appropriation and questioned
accordingly. And the Senate, thereafter, unanimously agreed to refer the matter
to the committee on appropriation to summon the officials and conduct an
investigation.
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