approved the transfer of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5
million) from funds recovered from late dictator, Sani Abacha, to the
Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks to
the 2015 presidential election, PREMIUM TIMES can authoritatively
report today.
The former Minister signed off on the transfer but then closed her
eyes to how the funds were spent, requesting then President Goodluck
Jonathan to directly demand accountability from Mr. Dasuki, according
to documents seen by this newspaper.
The funds were never appropriated before they were transferred, a
clear violation of Nigeria's fiscal responsibility law.
Mr. Dasuki, alongside the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru
Bafarawa and founder of DAAR communications, owners of Africa
Independent Television and Raypower radio network, Raymond Dokpesi,
are being investigated for their roles in the disbursement of $2.1
billion and N643 billion meant for the procurement of arms to fight
the raging insurgency in Nigeria's north east region.
The recovered Abacha loot are funds returned to the Nigerian
government from monies stolen from the country's treasury by Mr.
Abacha.
The late dictator stole an estimated $5 billion from Nigeria and the
money is being returned in tranches after agreement with countries
such as Switzerland and the United States. So far $700 million has
been repatriated from Switzerland.
It is not clear whether these funds in question were part of the arms
procurement funds for which Mr Dasuki is being investigated.
But a letter signed by Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, seen by PREMIUM TIMES,
showed that 50 per cent of the recently recovered Abacha loot was
allotted for "urgent security need" such as the procurement of arms
and ammunition while the other half was set aside to be used for
development purposes.
The letter, dated January 20, 2015, which was addressed to Mr Jonathan
revealed that the money was transferred following a January 12, 2015
request by the office of the NSA under Mr Dasuki for funds for the
procurement of arms and ammunition as well as intelligence equipment.
"Please find a request by the National Security Adviser (NSA) for the
transfer of $300 million and £5.5 million of the recovered Abacha
funds to an ONSA [Office of the National Security Adviser] operations
account," the letter read.
"The NSA has explained that this is to enable the purchase of
ammunition, security, and other intelligence equipment for the
security agencies in order to enable them fully confront the ongoing
Boko Haram threat.
"His request is sequel to the meeting you chaired with the committee
on the use of recovered funds where the decision was made that
recovered Abacha funds would be split 50-50 between urgent security
needs to confront Boko Haram and development need (including a portion
for the Future Generations window of the Sovereign Wealth Fund)," Mrs
Okojo-Iweala wrote.
She added that the letter was to seek Mr Jonathan's approval for the
funds to be disbursed to the ONSA. The former minister further
explained that the money being transferred formed part of the Federal
Government Independent Revenue.
However, instead of insisting on overseeing how the disbursed funds
were spent, as the country's chief financial officer, she abdicated
her responsibility, expecting and asked Mr Dasuki to account directly
to Mr Jonathan.
"This letter is to seek your approval to borrow these funds, for now,
to disburse to the NSA. These funds form part of the projected Federal
Government Independent Revenue, to be appropriated, in the light and
for accountability, given the peculiar nature of security and
intelligence transactions, we would expect the NSA to account to Your
Excellency for the utilisation of the funds," she concluded.
In a January 30, 2015 letter, Mr. Jonathan approved the transfer.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole vindicated
This latest disclosure appears to have vindicated Edo State Governor,
Adams Oshiomhole, who last week called for the prosecution of Mrs.
Okonjo-Iweala for transferring funds that were not appropriated.
The governor stated that neither the president nor the minister has
power to unilaterally transfer funds that were not appropriated by the
National Assembly.
He therefore argued that Mr. Jonathan and Mrs Okonjo-Iweala should be
charged alongside Messrs Dasuki, Dokpesi and Bafawara for allegedly
misappropriating funds meant for arms procurement.
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