Okonjo-Iweala: Missing N30trillion strange

Monday, May 23, 2016 5:26 pm

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: slams SERAP over alleged missing N30trillion

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria ‘s former finance minister said she was not aware while in office that the Socio-Economic Rights Agenda (SERAP), pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, filed an action asking her and the Federal government to provide information relating to an alleged missing N30 trillion.

In a statement today, she said she was never served with any court processes in relation to the said matter and that when it was served in July 2015, she had already ceased to be the Minister of Finance.

“By the date the said papers were purportedly served Dr Okonjo-Iweala was no longer a public officer and could therefore not be the subject of a request for production of any documents or information under the Freedom of information Act.

“The Court processes must have been served on others because the attention of Dr Okonjo-Iweala was never drawn to the matter in which she appears to have been sued personally. She therefore did not engage any lawyer to act for her in the matter.

She also slammed SERAP for anchoring its action on a baseless and unsubstantiated allegation by former CBN governor Professor Charles Soludo, that N30 trillion – about seven times the total annual budget during the Jonathan administration – is missing confirms.

She said this confirmed ” SERAP’s dubious motives and its role as a tool for politically motivated actors”.

“It is curious that the first time Dr Okonjo-Iweala is being made aware of a matter filed against her in court is in news reports reporting the delivery of judgment. She has instructed her lawyers to take steps to set aside the judgment as it affects her, “said Paul Nwabuikwu, her media adviser.