The Senate has summoned the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emiefele; the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; and the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali after they allegedly withdrew $462 million for helicopters from the Federation Account without the approval of the Senate.
The summon followed a point of order raised by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Sam Anyanwu who said a whooping sum of $462 million was withdrawn from the federation account and paid for helicopters to an American firm called Helicopter Tecno Fights Helicopters.
This was done without the approval of the Senate.
Senator San Anyanwu told the house:
“Mr President, I have it in good authority that in March, 2018, a whooping sum of $462 million was withdrawn from the federation account and paid for helicopters to an American firm called Helicopter Tecno Fights Helicopters and this was done without the approval of the Senate.
“And I know there was no such request from the Senate.
“As a citizen, senator of this place, I want to find out how this thing was done and I suggest that we invite the CBN governor, the Ministers of Finance and Defence to tell us how this money was withdrawn and paid to an American company without the approval of the Senate.”
Mr Anyanwu made reference to section 80 (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution which prohibits anyone from withdrawing money from the Federation Account without the consent of the National Assembly.
Mr Anyawu demanded that the trio be summoned before the committee on appropriation and questioned accordingly. And the Senate, thereafter, unanimously agreed to refer the matter to the committee on appropriation to summon the officials and conduct an investigation.
The committee is expected to report back in one week.
