BY Mayowa Tijani
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, says she has absolutely nothing to do with the $2.1bn arms deal making the headlines across the country.
She also threatened to take legal action against Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state, for “his recent efforts to link my name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue”.
In a statement available to TheCable, Paul Nwabuikwu, media adviser to the former minister, said Oshiomhole’s attempt to link her with the issue is an infringement on her human rights.
“It is an abuse of public office, the judicial process and her human rights for governor Oshiomhole, whom she stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan, to make false allegations against her while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors,” read the statement.
“As recently confirmed by the Debt Management Office, professional analysis showed that Oshiomhole’s loan request, which was based on using low-interest World Bank loan to offset high interest commercial loans, would have left Edo state with a heavy debt burden and the state would have found it very difficult to pay back. It is unconscionable for the governor to embark on a campaign of lies against her because she thwarted his dubious loan request.”
She described the governor’s unsubstantiated allegations as a cynical personalisation of the anti-corruption campaign to achieve ignoble objectives.
Oshiomhole had initially called for the prosecution of former president Goodluck Jonathan and Okonjo-Iweala, saying they approved $2.1bn for arms without the ratification of the national assembly.
Nwabuikwu emphasized that the former coordinating minister of the economy was willing to explore legal means in protecting her name and reputation.
“Okonjo-Iweala, therefore, puts Oshiomhole and his ilk on notice that she has briefed her lawyers and that she is ready to explore all legal means, local and international, to defend her name against corrupt and compromised persons.
“It has become a pattern of behaviour that each time Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala is internationally recognised, governor Oshiomole and his cohorts embark on a cynical and devious ploy of trying to pull her down locally.
“Just last night, December 1, Okonjo-Iweala was honoured at a high-profile event attended by Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. Okonjo Iweala was honoured alongside Michael Bloomberg, Bill and Melinda Gates, and Mo Ibrahim for their contributions to global development and humanity.
“Oshiomhole and his cohorts should realise that their ill-motivated attempts to taint Dr Okonjo Iweala’s reputation will never succeed.”
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