Oshiomhole Queries Okonjo-Iweala Over Arms Deal

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?”