Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, has outrightly called for the prosecution of the former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, over her role in the alleged diversion of funds meant for the procurement of arms.

Oshiomhole says no one should be exempted from prosecution, stressing that all those involved in the mismanagement of arms funds under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, should be brought to justice.

The governor made the comments on Thursday, at a National Dialogue organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the National Human Rights Commission and the International Human Rights Day.

 

 

Oshiomhole said Okonjo-Iweala of supervising and coordinating the mismanagement of the nation’s economy, hence the investigation into the diversion of arms funds won’t be complete if she’s not involved.

“All I am just saying is that we are in a constitutional democracy. We are not under an informal arrangement. And when you listen to all the narratives, all the disclosure and defence, you will realise that the Federal Government needs to prosecute everybody, not to exempt anyone.

“For example, I have read in the newspapers and online, the former Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy saying that she transferred part of the money recovered from Abacha to Dasuki for security purposes.

“Now, the first question the media should ask is, even under conditions of war, should money not be appropriated? And the National Assembly, I recall very well, when Aminu Tambuwal was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, they reconvened on Sunday in order to attend to an urgent matter submitted by the President. So, the Constitution is very clear.

“Money was looted and foreign countries helped us to recover that money and a minister assisted in ensuring that that money was re-looted again. And she is there in Washington and you are here languishing.

“I am saying that she also must be brought to justice. They say it is Ali Baba and the forty thieves. Now, you are dealing with the forty thieves and Ali Baba is left alone. The Ali Baba, in this case, Okonjo-Iweala, who supervised, who coordinated the economy, who signed for the release of this money in clear breach of the Constitution, must be tried.

“They must all be investigated. I don’t like the word probe. What are you probing? The facts have been acknowledged. She has admitted that she transferred money. This same Okonjo-Iweala, few months back, had said in the media that Abacha loot was used for development.

“That was what she said then, only for her to turn around yesterday to say no, it was used for security. But whether for development or for security, was Abacha loot covered in the appropriation?”