The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor on Tuesday disclosed that the National Assembly did not approve the controversial $2.1bn arms fund. It will be recalled that money meant for the execution of the war against Boko Haram was allegedly divert into private pockets from the Office of former National Security Adviser, ONSA, Sambo Dasuki.
Ogor, at a press conference by the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to demand the release of its National Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh, said the money allegedly diverted was an extra-budgetary expenditure. He said the money was not approved by the National Assembly, adding that its source will be probed.
DAILY POST recalls that Metuh who has been in custody of the EFCC has been accused by the anti-graft agency of receiving N400m from the former National Security Adviser through one of his companies
Speaking on the source of the $2.1bn arms fund, Ogor said it is possible that the alleged spending was cooked up since the parliament did not approve such money to the past government.
Ogor also revealed that the parliament will soon commence investigation into the source of the money and who ordered the spending without approval from the National Assembly.
The Minority Leader, while expressing disappointment over Metuh’s continued incarceration, noted that an individual can only be held for a stipulated time which if not charged to court, should be set free.
He, however, accused the anti-graft agency of prejudice in its treatment of persons being accused of corruption, stressing that the fight against corruption cannot be “different strokes for different folks.”
Ogor stated that Metuh should be made to face the consequences of his actions if found guilty by a court of law, adding that the EFCC cannot be the persecutor and the Judge.
“We want to lay emphasis on due process, we are not in support of corrupt attitude or actions, I will lay emphasis on due process and the rule of law and the issue here again Is the arrest of the voice of the PDP who is Chief Olisa Metuh.
“As a House we condemn it totally and we insist that within the next 48hours Olisah Metuh should be given administrative bail or be taken before a competent law of jurisdiction where he can be tried and if pronounced guilty, be made to face the consequence.
“The action of the EFCC as it stands today negates the principle of the laws that run the commission, it offends the fundamental rights of Olisa Metuh, it is more like pronouncing him guilty before he is put forward for trial.
“On this same issue that borders on the transfer of funds, who was also arrested on the same subject matter, Isa Jafaru was detained by the EFCC and in less than 8 hours was given administrative bail after the chairman of the EFCC visited Aso Rock.
“We are not saying that somebody is guilty, but it Is not in our position, and I repeat not in the position of any other person but a competent jurisdiction to pronounce anybody guilty.
“EFCC lacks to power to say refund money, it is the courts that can say so. If he was asked to used those money for specific assignment, if he has said he has used the money and it is not there, it is now for him to defend his action in a competent court of law, “he said.
Comentarios