The Edo State Governor, Adams
Oshiomhole, on Thursday called for the prosecution of the former
Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and others found to be
involved in the mismanagement of funds meant for the purchase of arms
for the military under the administration of former President Goodluck
Jonathan.
The governor spoke at a National
Dialogue organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the National
Human Rights Commission and the International Human Rights Day.
President Muhammadu Buhari was
represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of
Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the occasion which was
co-organised by the NHRC and the Nigerian Bar Association.
The event was chaired by a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria, Joe Kyari-Gadzama,who doubled as the representative
of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed.
Oshiomhole faulted the claim by
Okonjo-Iweala that she released part of the funds recovered from the
loot of the late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, to the
immediate past National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The governor argued that the Federal
Government’s effort to recover stolen funds under the Jonathan
administration would not be complete without Okonjo-Iweala’s
prosecution.
He accused Okonjo-Iweala of supervising and coordinating the mismanagement of the nation’s economy.
He said, “All I am just saying is that
we are in a constitutional democracy. We are not under an informal
arrangement. And when you listen to all the narratives, all the
disclosure and defence, you will realise that the Federal Government
needs to prosecute everybody, not to exempt anyone.
“For example, I have read in the
newspapers and online, the former Minister of Finance and the
Coordinating Minister of the Economy saying that she transferred part of
the money recovered from Abacha to Dasuki for security purposes.
“Now, the first question the media
should ask is, even under conditions of war, should money not be
appropriated? And the National Assembly, I recall very well, when Aminu
Tambuwal was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, they
reconvened on Sunday in order to attend to an urgent matter submitted by
the President. So, the Constitution is very clear.
“Money was looted and foreign countries
helped us to recover that money and a minister assisted in ensuring that
that money was re-looted again. And she is there in Washington and you
are here languishing.
“I am saying that she also must be
brought to justice. They say it is Ali Baba and the forty thieves. Now,
you are dealing with the forty thieves and Ali Baba is left alone. The
Ali Baba, in this case, Okonjo-Iweala, who supervised, who coordinated
the economy, who signed for the release of this money in clear breach of
the Constitution, must be tried.
“They must all be investigated. I don’t
like the word probe. What are you probing? The facts have been
acknowledged. She has admitted that she transferred money. This same
Okonjo-Iweala, few months back, had said in the media that Abacha loot
was used for development.
“That was what she said then, only for
her to turn around yesterday to say no, it was used for security. But
whether for development or for security, was Abacha loot covered in the
appropriation?”
Speaking at the event, President Buhari,
who was represented by Malami, raised the hope of persons displaced by
the insurgent activities in the North-East, saying the process of
returning them to their original homes would soon be completed.
While reiterating the commitment of his
administration to respect human rights at all times, the President said
that the counter-terrorism war against Boko Haram would carefully right
abuses.
The President called on the United
Nations to continue to provide “a platform for the common resolution of
problems which today cause so much misery around the world and deny
millions of people their basic rights to life and meaningful existence.”
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