$462 million for purchase of helicopters: Senate summons CBN Governor, Finance, Defence ministers

The Nigerian Senate has frowned against illegal withdrawal of a sum of $462 million, by the Federal Government for the purchase of helicopters from an American firm.

This observation was made at the Senate plenary session on Tuesday, when Senator Sam Anyanwu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, raised a Point-of- Order.

Emefiele,CBN Governor and Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister

Consequently, the Senate has summoned the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN) , Mr Godwin Emefiele , Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her Defence counterpart, Mansur Dan - Ali for explanation on alleged withdrawal for the purchase of helicopters.

While raising the Point-of-Order, Senator Anyanwu, revealed that he has it on good authority that in March, 2018, from the Federation Account , a sum of 462 million dollars was withdrawn and paid for helicopters to an American firm.

He 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suggest we invite the CBN Governor, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Defence to tell us how this money was withdrawn and paid into an American company without the approval of the Senate, ” he said.

Anyanwu further quoted Section 80 ( 2 and 3) of the Constitution stipulated that “ no monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the fund by the Constitution.

“No monies shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the federation other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund unless the issue of those monies have been authorised by the Act of the National Assembly," Sen.Anyanwu revealed.

The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu , who presided over the plenary, however referred the matter to the Appropriation Committee and gave it one week to interrogate the allegation and report back to the House.

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