The directive by the former finance minister Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala for the withdrawal of N1.17 billion from Sokoto Rima Basin
Development Commission (SRBDC) account last year is “unacceptable,” members of
the House of Representatives have said.
To this end, the ad hoc committee mandated by the House
to probe the withdrawal, after its meeting with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)
and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), queried how
the minister’s directive could override that of the president. It sought for more details from the former
minister.
The committee, under Rep Evelyn Ojakovo (PDP, Delta) was
informed during the meeting with the authority’s managing director, Mukhtari
Ahmad Anka that presently N846 million was eventually withdrawn by CBN from
their account.
Anka said due to the commission’s outstanding fund with
the federal government, a letter was written to the president for the money,
which he approved for release, “because all our previous budgets were never
fully released since 2012.”
“We could no longer meet our project and contractual
obligations any longer, while our contractors were bothering us. That was why
we made the appeal,” he said.
But soon after the release, the minister of finance,
through the AGF ordered CBN to withdraw all the money over what the AGF said
“duplication of payment.”
Representative of the CBN and director, banking system,
Suleman Barau said the apex carried out its duties based on approved and duly
signed mandates from the AGF, who opened and owns all accounts of ministries,
departments and agencies.
No comments:
Post a Comment