Jonathan Approved $2.1bn Withdrawn from Abacha's Loot - Okonjo-Iweala Insists

 

Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said she has nothing to do with the alleged misuse of $2.1billion by the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Col. Sambo Dasuki as claimed by lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana.

 

The activist had petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICC) on the matter.

 

The economist said the January 20, 2015 memo in which she sought and received the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan for the release of part of the Abacha funds to the NSA for purchase of arms is totally separate from the $2.1 billion issue.

 

The memo clearly documented her insistence that the proper procedure be followed, subject to appropriation and according to financial regulations, she said. 

 

In  a statement signed by her media adviser, Paul C. Nwabuikwu  the former minister  said Falana and his sponsors had claimed that billions of dollars of Abacha funds were recovered and that  she should account for the recovered funds.

 

She went further to state that the former NSA should account for the funds to the former President since she is not a member of the Security Council adding that attempt to link her to the $2.1billion issue is therefore dead on arrival.

 

According to the statement, some of the funds recovery was done under the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo when Dr Okonjo-Iweala was not even in government.

 

During her  time as finance minister in the second Obasanjo administration, $500m was recovered, the statement noted.

 

She explained that as documented by the Field Study conducted by the World Bank with the assistance of national and international NGOs, this amount was properly applied.