Ex-minister says Jonathan instructed her to withdraw N1.3B from NNPC

The ex-Minister for petroleum,

Diezani accused the EFCC of displaying lack of understanding of the constitutional powers of a president in managing funds meant for security/intelligence agencies.

Responding to reports that she withdrew N1.3 billion from the account of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the ex-minister says she acted based on written approvals and directives by the President at the time.

In a statement issued by her media aide, Clem Aguiyi, Diezani said the EFCC should seek clarity about the process for release of funds requested by security/intelligence agencies.

Diezani's response

Diezani said all executive powers are vested in the president who may exercise it directly or through the vice-president or ministers.

“On the issue in question, the minister of petroleum resources acted on the basis of the written approvals and directives given by the president, which approvals were given after written requests from the relevant security agencies were made to the president.

“At such instances, as in fact the article clearly shows, a service chief or intelligence chief, makes a written request/appeal to Mr President outlining whatever urgent and critical security needs of the nation they consider imminently paramount, at any given point in time.

“If such a request received the approval of the president, the president may direct that the requested funds be drawn from a security budget maintained by NNPC, or that the funds be sourced from elsewhere.

“Where the president directs the minister of petroleum resources, in writing, to make the payment from the NNPC, the minister in turn, directs the GMD NNPC in writing to execute the directive of the president. NNPC then wires the funds from one of its major foreign bank accounts, or from the CBN, directly to the stipulated account of the particular branch of the armed services, or intelligence unit, or department, that initiated the request. It is not within the powers or discretion of any minister to question, flout or disregard the written directives of the president, including that of the incumbent president.

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“It is therefore, impossible and implausible, for any monies under such presidential directives to be diverted during the process, at least from the standpoint of the minister. Any and all amounts approved and directed by Mr. President to be paid, were executed exclusively by NNPC, directly from NNPC’s foreign and or, Central Bank of Nigeria accounts, to the stated recipients,” she said.

“Therefore, let it be very clear, that all funds disbursed by these banking institutions on behalf of NNPC are easily and openly traceable, and the process cannot and should not be utilised for the distortion of facts, vendetta or political mischief.”