Former Finance minister and co-ordinating minister of the economy, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has published the January 20 memo to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan requesting approval to release to former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) $300 million and 5.5 million pounds sterling from Abacha funds to NSA’s operational accounts.
Jonathan’s approval stamp indicated his consent for the transfer nine days later.
Persistent media reports repeat that the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is about to invite Okonjo-Iweala soon for grilling about the arms deal scandal revolving around the NSA.
However, a statement by Mr Paul Nwabuikwu, her Media Adviser, on Friday said the ex-minister’s critics are purveyors of falsehood on a political mission to tarnish the image of the innocent patriot.
It reads: “For the past week, Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole and other compromised persons and media have embarked on a campaign of falsehood against Dr Okonjo-Iweala. They have distorted the contents of the January 20 memo in which she responded to a request by the former National Security Adviser and quoted selectively from the document to make their false allegations of “illegal diversion” of funds.
“For your information and a fuller understanding of the issues, please see the attached January 20 memo by Dr Okonjo-Iweala as published by some online sites. It confirms that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is a transparent person of integrity and a patriotic professional who worked hard to protect the interest of the country and that her accusers are purveyors of falsehood on a political mission to tarnish an innocent patriot.”
