Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has again questioned the President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s decision to withdraw $496 million from the Excess Crude Account.
He said it was funny that the same government which “illegally” withdrew the money for 12 Super Tocano jets was accusing the Jonathan administration of illegal withdrawals.
He further revealed that the Afghan government recently bought same jets at reduced price.
“Nigerians and the international community are aware that the illegal withdrawal by the Buhari government triggered an impeachment attempt against the President at the Senate of the National Assembly which is still raising dust”, Omokri said in a statement on Monday.
“According to the world’s premier aviation intelligence agency, Flight Global, the cost of a Super Tocano aircraft is $10 million. Rather than make false allegations against the Jonathan government, the Buhari administration should rather tell Nigerians why an aircraft that is sold for $10 million each is costing Nigeria almost $40 million each?
“In November 2017, Afghanistan bought 6 A-29 Super Tucanos at a total cost of $174.5 million, a price tag which included aircraft transportation, maintenance spares and advanced sensors. Why is Nigeria paying $496 million for 12 of the same aircrafts?
“The excuse given by the Buhari administration that it had to make haste and pay for the Super Tocano jets because of the anti-terror war does not make sense since the US has announced that the jets would not be ready until the year 2020. What is the hurry to pay for 2020 planes to fight a 2018 problem?
“The $496m Super Tocano scandal follows a pattern of alleged corrupt behaviour by the Buhari administration that has seen it spend $25 billion on contracts at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation without due process, return, reinstate and double promote Nigeria’s biggest ever alleged thieving civil servant, Abdulrasheed Maina, reinstatement of the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme who was indicted for corrupt practices against the advice of the minister of health, non-prosecution of Buhari cronies caught red handed in corruption such as former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, etc,” he further stated.
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