by James Sambo
Erstwhile Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has shut-down allegations made by a former Central Bank governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, that N30 trillion was stolen under the watch of the coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Ribadu made the comments on Wednesday, February 4, in an interview in Abuja, where he pointed out that he was baffled and amused over the allegation, because of his confidence that Okonjo-Iweala was “honest, reliable and of impeccable character.”
He said: “I was baffled and got deluded for anyone to say that N30 trillion got lost, I think we just have to look at what we earn as a country and what our budget had been in these few years. And see how possible is it and if everything we earned is not up to that within the period she has ben the minister which is about three to four years.”
“And for somebody to say that N30 trillion is missing is baffling, especially if you know what our budget has been these years. We need to be careful to avoid more damage to our nation because there are certain things that when it comes out, it will never go back again.”
“I challenge anybody to say that she stole N1 at that time, we were all there, I was in charge of EFCC and I want to hear anybody say that she did this and that. And I followed her up till now, I think it is somehow uncharitable for someone to come out to say that such an amount of money was missing under her watch.”
Ribadu said that under the administration of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo; Okonjo-Iweala was the economic team leader, who also coordinated the economic policy of the government.
Furthermore, he cautioned Nigerians to be careful with their statements and ditch the habit of pulling down their people who have climbed to such a high level of international repute in the name of politics.
“Am a little bit disturbed with what I have been hearing in the last couple of days where, many things are being said and some are totally out of place with some of the result we have achieved in the economy.”
As far as I am concerned Mallam Ribadu has not said anything to rebuff the intelligently laid down points of soludo concerning the matter, for all I care all he has succeeded in saying is that we should take his word on Oweala’s intergrity and profecienty, but alas we will need more than mere words on a grave matter like this . Besides Mr Soludo did not accuse Okonjo Iweala for stealing money, rather her irresponsibility over our country’s monetary resouries. He either didn’t read the statement by Professor Soludo. Either way I find his defence of no weight at all