The two major political parties’ caucuses of the House of Representatives, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress, on Tuesday disagreed over the N30tn alleged to have either been “stolen” or “mismanaged” under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan till date.
A former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, made the allegation on Monday in a widely circulated article he wrote on the alleged mismanagement of the Nigerian economy under Jonathan’s watch.
The House caucuses held opposing views on the matter in separate interviews with our correspondent.
While the APC caucus demanded an immediate investigation into the allegation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the PDP caucus simply dismissed it as a “wild, baseless and unsubstantiated allegation.”
Speaking on behalf of the APC, the House Minority Leader and caucus leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the magnitude of the amount involved should cause sleepless nights for any government.
He noted that aside being a renowned economist, Soludo served as the governor of the CBN and was in a position to know the financial dealings of the Federal Government.
“It is a common knowledge that our economy has been leaking profusely over the years due to mismanagement and outright theft.
“However, no one could have imagined the magnitude and volume as suggested by Prof. Soludo. Now, because he is a former CBN governor and an internationally-acclaimed economist, he should know and be taken serious,” Gbajabiamila told our correspondent.
He argued that, even if the money involved was N15tn or N20tn, it could still cripple any economy.
The APC lawmaker from Lagos State spoke further, “Now, let us assume for argument sake that he embellished and exaggerated his N30tn figure.
“Let us slash it by a 50 per cent margin of error to say N15tn or even N20tn, it still beats the imagination and shocks the system.”
Calling on the EFCC to investigate the allegation, he added, “This will be the biggest case of economic and financial crime for which the EFCC was established to look into.
“Ignoring this allegation makes everyone or authority in Nigeria that keeps quiet an accessory, after the fact and just as guilty if the crime is established.”
However, Deputy House Majority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, stated that he was surprised to hear an economist of Soludo’s status make such an allegation.
Ogor argued that the former CBN governor’s article appeared more like a product of “guess work and unsubstantiated figures” than anything that should be taken seriously.
The lawmaker from Delta State also claimed that anybody with the intent of “running down a government could easily put figures together and make them appear so convincing.”
He added that when such figures and allegations were subjected to investigation, “you will find out that that the person making all the noise becomes tongue-tied.”
“Our laws stipulate clearly that he who makes allegations must be prepared to show proof.
“Sometimes, some of these our so-called technocrats that have turned politicians overnight, are seeking relevance.
“It is even more embarrassing coming from somebody like Soludo.
“He should go the extra mile to provide all the documents or we should just ignore him and concentrate on good governance as we are already doing,” he stated.
Ogor also dismissed any call to investigate the allegation, saying that Soludo’s article had no “basis at all.”
He claimed that the House in particular would not consider such a move because there was no evidence before it suggesting that N30tn was either stolen or unaccounted for by the Jonathan administration.
“We don’t probe unnecessary allegations. We have been carrying out our budget oversight on all government bodies.
“There is nowhere we have this evidence. This is merely intended to divert attention and it should be quickly ignored,” he added.
He said but for Soludo’s clarification that he was not looking for a job, he (Ogor) would have concluded that the former CBN governor urgently needed to catch the attention of Jonathan for a job.
“If he needs a job, he should say so. There is nothing bad in admitting it. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
EFCC!!! It's been long I've heard from them since every stealing now in Nigeria is a mere Stealing. I was expecting to hear their Voice during the 21Billion campaign donation but surprisingly they are silent.
ReplyDeleteWe've lost the Voice of ICPC and JTF Totally in dis country. Nigeria is totally down.
These APC law makers are fools, how can u initiate a probe into a mere allegation that cannot be substantiated? Soludo has no proof what so ever to back his false allegation just like sanusi who claimed $49bn was missing and later changed the figure to $12bn and later changed it again to $20bn all without proof just guessing and imagining. The forensic investigation report is out and within a week we will get a glimpse of the document.
ReplyDeleteGEJ is just being a true democrat otherwise if it were me I will arrest all these noise makers to prove their allegation and if they can't prove will be dealt with severely.
Please can some one tell me how to Change PDP they have been ruling Nigeria for 16years now and they always complain that the present government is better than the last is it not the same party that produce all this candidate, what worries me now is that OUR BELOVED NIARA HAS BEEN DEVALUED like the Ugandan money (tissue) paper During the time of Idi Ami to N210. to $1
ReplyDeleteAbeg make una help because we are falling really fast.
TRUE OR FALSE, the matter should be investigated. AU has also make such declaration. The 2 here can not be lying even though the figure are not the same but it shows that there is mismanagement of fund here
ReplyDelete"He added that when such figures and allegations were subjected to investigation, “you will find out that that the person making all the noise becomes tongue-tied". That the person would be tongue tied is not a enough reason for the investigation nit to be conducted. An allegation has been made, ur duty as representative of the ppl is to investigate and ensure the messes voices are heard. Why would u conclude on the outcome of an investigation that has nt yet been conducted if not that u have anterior motive. God would save us from all this selfish politicians.
ReplyDeleteMr annonumois 6.30,I am not surprised at I at all,u have all the xtics of a jonathanian aologist who berates every n anybody dat raises a voice against ir thieving president n his band of 40 thieves,an allegation was made n yet u say theres no basis for a probe,so we shld just sit n do nothing,I wonder abt some of the commentators here n their mindsets,N30trn n its all just noise from a disgruntled former employee,a CBN governor at that,I weep for this country if these are the youths the country is gonna be handed over to,ur sista Ngozi had no credible defence n all she resorted to,just like ur daft self is to say Soludo shld provide evidence,she in in charge of the economy,the onus is on her tp defend herself with facts n figures cos she has more at stake cos the economy is in shambles under her watch,make una no worry,sebi una fellow thief dey donate N21bn for jona campaign abi,wen buhari enter pple wey go waka on exile go plenty for dis country
ReplyDelete