By Ishaya Ibrahim
A lawyer and policy expert, Dalo Bamshak has asked the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osibanjo, to resign his position as Nigeria’s vice president and let the law take its full course over allegation that he disbursed N5.8 billion to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) without parliamentary approval.
The House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness (HCEDP) chaired by Ali Isa had accused the Vice President of illegally approving the N5.8 billion to the North East Internally Displaced Person’s (IDPs) in 2017 while acting as President.
Bamshak said the Vice President’s action was totally unconstitutional. “Withdrawal of funds from the consolidated revenue account of the federation without due approval from the National Assembly is arbitrary and breaches Section (2) of the procurement Act, as well as provision of the appropriation Act,” he said.
He said the vice president failed to follow the due constitutional process even as a law Professor and senior advocate of Nigeria.
“Section 80(4) of the 1999 constitution as amended states and I quote ‘ No money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue fund or any other public fund of the federation, EXCEPT in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly,” he said.
He said out of the N5.8 billion withdrawn by Osinbajo, who happens to be the board chairman of NEMA, he reportedly got N829 million for logistics which they claim they spent N369.5 million on general logistics, N189 million on branding and packaging, N21.9 million on contingency.
He said direct crediting of such huge amount to NEMA and individual account violates the approval limit allowed by law.
He listed other private companies that allegedly benefited from the disbursement to include; Dangote Rice Ltd who received (N936.1 million); BUA Ltd (N1.3billion); WACOT Ltd (N453.6 million); Golden Agric Input Ltd (N1.3 billion); WACOT Ltd (N939.9 million) respectively.
“I hereby urge the Vice president Professor Yemi Osibanjo to drop from the horse, take off the robes of immunity and allow a thorough investigation into the pressing issue to clear his reputation of the fraud allegations laid against him by the NASS. Same goes to any other individual or company involved. A true leader they say is one who leads by example,” Bamshak said.
