Diezani Alison-Madueke, former
petroleum minister, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) of displaying lack of understanding of the constitutional powers of a
president in managing funds meant for security and intelligence agencies.
She said this in response to a
report that she withdrew $1.3 billion from the account of the Nigerian National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
In a statement issued on her
behalf by Clem Aguiyi, her media aide, the ex-minister said the anti-graft
agency ought to seek clarity about the process for release of funds requested
by security/intelligence agencies.
Quoting section 5 of the
constitution, Alison-Madueke said all executive powers are vested in the
president who may exercise it directly or through the vice-president or
ministers.
She argued that as minister of
petroleum resources, she was an appointee and delegate of the president.
“On the issue in question, the
minister of petroleum resources acted on the basis of the written approvals and
directives given by the president, which approvals were given after written
requests from the relevant security agencies were made to the president,” she
said.
“At such instances, as in fact
the article clearly shows, a service chief or intelligence chief, makes a
written request/appeal to Mr President outlining whatever urgent and critical
security needs of the nation they consider imminently paramount, at any given
point in time.
“If such a request received the
approval of the president, the president may direct that the requested funds be
drawn from a security budget maintained by NNPC, or that the funds be sourced
from elsewhere.
“Where the president directs the
minister of petroleum resources, in writing, to make the payment from the NNPC,
the minister in turn, directs the GMD NNPC in writing to execute the directive
of the president. NNPC then wires the funds from one of its major foreign bank
accounts, or from the CBN, directly to the stipulated account of the particular
branch of the armed services, or intelligence unit, or department, that
initiated the request. It is not within the powers or discretion of any
minister to question, flout or disregard the written directives of the
president, including that of the incumbent president.”
The former minister maintained
that at no time did she interfere with this process.
“It is therefore, impossible and
implausible, for any monies under such presidential directives to be diverted
during the process, at least from the standpoint of the minister. Any and all
amounts approved and directed by Mr. President to be paid, were executed
exclusively by NNPC, directly from NNPC’s foreign and or, Central Bank of
Nigeria accounts, to the stated recipients,” she said.
“Therefore, let it be very clear,
that all funds disbursed by these banking institutions on behalf of NNPC are
easily and openly traceable, and the process cannot and should not be utilised
for the distortion of facts, vendetta or political mischief.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com