The Senate on Tuesday summoned two ministers and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in connection with the alleged withdrawal of $462 million for purchase of helicopters from an American firm.
The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and her Defence counterpart, Mansur Dan-Ali were to join Emefiele in explaining what they know about the helicopters’ purchase.
Their summon was sequel to a Point-of-Order raised by Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, Senator Sam Anyanwu, at plenary on Tuesday.
Anyanwu said he has it on good authority that in March 2018, from the Federation Account, a sum of $462 million was withdrawn and paid for helicopters to an American firm.
Anyanwu said: “This is without the approval of the National Assembly. I know that at no time was there any request from this Senate for any such withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Account of the federation.
“I want to find out if anything was done.
“I will suggest we invite the CBN governor, the minister of finance and the minister of defence to tell us how this money was withdrawn and paid into an American company without the approval of the Senate.”
The senator further stated that Section 80 (2 and 3) of the Constitution stipulated that “no monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the fund by the Constitution.
“No monies shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the federation other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund unless the issue of those monies has been authorised by the Act of the National Assembly,” he said.
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at the plenary, referred the matter to the Appropriation Committee and gave it one week to report back.