Reps may invite Okonjo-Iweala over withdrawal of N1.17bn Sokoto River Basin fund

Reps may invite Okonjo-Iweala over withdrawal of N1.17bn Sokoto River Basin fund

By Our Reporter  on December 21, 2015   National
From Kemi Yesufu and Fred Itua, Abuja
HOUSE of Representa­tives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the with­drawal of N1.17 billion meant for the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBA) may invite former Finance min­ister, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala to shed light on the matter.
The money was meant for the agency.
The lawmakers will also be seeking an explana­tion on why a presidential directive approving the N1.17 billion for SRRBA was overlooked with part of the said sum withdrawn from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
President Goodluck Jonathan had in a letter, approved the plea of the River Basin Authority for the payment of N1.17 bil­lion.
The approval was con­veyed to the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) by Okonjo-Iweala according to the office of the AGF.
The payment was made into the accounts of the SRRBDA on March 9, 2015 but withdrawn in two tranches within a week in May 2015.
But owing to the fact that part of the money had already been spent, N874.6 million was eventually withdrawn by the CBN.
First withdrawal of N784 million was made on May 6, 2015, while the second, N90 million was effected on May 12, 2015 but executed on May 16, 2015 by the CBN.
These happenings came to light during hearing by the ad-hoc vommit­tee where, the CBN said it credited and reversed the payment on the direc­tives of the Office of the Accountan General of the Federation (OAGF).