In my application to the Special Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week, I requested for investigation into the allegations of crimes against humanity committed by serving and retired military officers and their civilian accomplices. Having diverted over $8 billion earmarked for the procurement of arms and armament for counter insurgency operations I argued that the suspects who aided and abetted the dreaded Boko Haram sect in the barbaric killing of over 25 soldiers and civilians including children and the displacement of 2 million people ought to be prosecuted at the ICC. However, for having the temerity to request the ICC to investigate the crimes against humanity committed by some former public officers who bear full responsibility for the atrocities perpetrated by the terrorist group Dr. Okonjo-Iweala resorted to the scurrilous attack of my person.

Her baseless attack is not unusual as she is always quick to deflect criticisms by accusing anyone seeking to hold her to account for her appalling records in government of ulterior political motives. When Professor Chukwuma Soludo alleged that about N30 trillion could not be accounted for under her watch he was described as “an embittered loser in the Nigerian political space.” When Comrade Adams Oshiomole questioned the illegal withdrawal of $2 billion from the Excess Crude Account, he was accused of havinganimus towards her because she had blocked Edo State from obtaining a loan. Therefore, instead of exchanging vulgar abuse with the former Minister I shall respond to the diversionary allegations which lacerated her response and the attempt to extricate herself from the mass looting of the commonwealth under her watch.

The claim that I am unfamiliar with the mandate of the ICC shows that Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala has not been following the practice of the court and its active and robust approach to its mandates, in particular with regard to the investigation of crimes in Darfur, the warrant of arrest for Joseph Kony (Uganda), and the warrant of arrest for Ahmad Harun, (Sudan). In many decided cases, the ICC has expanded its mandate to humanitarian issues, aimed at forestalling and impeding the perpetration of crimes which cause gross human rights abuse. There is absolutely nothing in the Rome Statute of the ICC to suggest that the court cannot address impunity for enormous financial crimes (and its crippling impact) which took place while Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala was the Finance Minister and the Coordinating Minister of the economy.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s claim that I own the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is far-fetched and laughable. A simple google search would have shown her that while I am one of the legal advisers of the organization, there are other very distinguished lawyers and academics of international repute on SERAP’s board. Her claim that SERAP is ‘discredit’ is the exact opposite of reckless characterization because it is an organization that has won national and international recognitions—including nomination for the UN civil society award; the Ford Foundation Jubilee Transparency Award; and the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award.



Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also claimed that my petition against her to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) “were lacking in credibility”, without any substantiation of what this means or specific rebuttal of the allegations contained in that petition. She has however not denied the accuracy of the claims in my petition. Whereas the former Finance Minister had insisted that only $500 million was recovered from the Abacha loot my petition detailed the recovery of $4 billion. As she could not challenge my claim Dr. Okonjo-Iweala now says that the $500 million was the amount recovered while she was the Minister of Finance under President Obasanjo. In making that claim she did not take cognizance of her recent statement that while she gave out $322 million to Col. Dasuki the sum of $700 million had been set aside for development. From her own account, over $1 billion was recovered from the loot under the Jonathan regime when she was coordinating the economy.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala should have also provided further explanations as to why a substantial part of the Abacha loot was criminally diverted under her watch, especially in light of her confessional statement that she transferred $322m from the Abacha loot to former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, to prosecute the war on terror. Apart from the said $322m, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala also released £5.5m to Dasuki. Even on this ground alone, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala cannot plausibly claim not to have anything to do with the arms procurement scandal. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s excuse that the said $322m was released due to the urgency of the crisis in the North-East region is untenable having regard to the fact that former President Jonathan had sought the approval of the National Assembly to take a loan of $1bn to equip the armed forces to fight insurgency. Therefore, her self-induced urgency is not a justification for spending public funds without appropriation.
In the course of my defending several military officers and soldiers who were charged before court-martial for demanding weapons to fight the terrorists I confirmed that the $1 billion loan for arms procurement. I was compelled to request Dr. Okonjo-Iweala for an inventory of the military equipment purchased with the $1 billion loan. The requested inventory was made available to me as the weapons were not purchased.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has continued to give the erroneous impression that she rendered selfless service to the nation. But while her colleagues who served as Ministers under President Olusegun Obasanjo were paid their salaries and allowances in the local currency she received hers in dollars despite a judgment of the Court of Appeal which had declared the payment illegal and unconstitutional in the case of Fawehinmi v The President (2007) 14 NWLR (Pt 1054) 275. In order to weep up sentiments Dr. Okonjo-Iweala referred to the unfortunate kidnap of her 84-year mother, two years ago. But it is public knowledge that the lumpen elements involved in the kidnap were arrested by the Lagos State Police Command. From the report of police investigation the kidnappers were palace guards who were inspired by sheer avarice. In fact, they were arrested by the Police following the disagreement over the sharing of the N12 million ransom paid to them for the criminal enterprise.

The most ludicrous of Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala sweeping and jejune allegation is that some “corrupt elements” are using me as a tool. Although the allegation is without factual support it is illogical, to say the least. My request that the disbursement of the Abacha loot be investigated is further buttressed by the fact that the $500m Dr. Okonjo-Iweala claimed was spent on development projects was also not appropriated by the National Assembly, contrary to constitutional provisions. However, I have asked the EFCC to discountenance the 700-page report of the World Bank which has listed some phantom projects executed with the $500 million.

In the Appropriation Act of 2011, the sum of N245 billion was budgeted for fuel subsidy. But at the end of the year, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala had authorized the illegal payment of about N2.5 trillion to a cabal of fuel importers. As usual, she washed off her hands like Pontius Pilate. In order to unearth the monumental fraud I petitioned the EFCC and gave oral testimony before the House of Representatives Committee which separately investigated it. In the same vein, I have just asked the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation under the Freedom of Information Act to provide information on the failure of the NNPC to pay into the Federation Account the sum of $9.7 billion out of the $11.8 billion dividends paid by NLNG from 2004-2014. I have equally demanded information from the NEITI over its claim that the NNPC and some oil companies are indebted to the Federal Government to the tune of $19.1 billion.

Finally, let me make it abundantly clear that my petitions to the anti graft agencies and the Special Prosecutor of the ICC were anchored on law and facts as there is nothing personal in the ongoing battle to end impunity and retrieve the looted wealth of the nation from corrupt elements and institutions. It is my belief that the recovered loot should be channeled towards job creation and infrastructural development. Therefore, all hands should be on deck to ensure that the recovered loot is not criminally diverted by another set of looters .

http://www.punchng.com/28294-2/?utm_source=&utm_medium=twitter

Okonjo, if you escape probe you have to introduce me to the baba that helped with the juju you are using on this country.

Topccy007:
.

What is the meaning of this?

Season of open letters

Dansiki1:
What is the meaning of this?

The meaning is me booking a space. Sorry if it hurts.

This is a Looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong tin

Topccy007:
The meaning is me booking a space. Sorry if it hurts.

" Hurts" never, no big deal

Topccy007:
Mr Dansiki, if you want this space come and collect it.

I hope you've got your alert

Sometimes, we allow sentiment to becloud our sense of reasoning. When Okonjo Iweala published that nonsensical rebutal yesterday, so many incorrigible elements were all out to curse and abuse Falana just because the referred Human Right lawyer decided to petition the ICC

These incorrigible children of hate should as a matter of urgency mention top 3 living lawyers we have in this country that can best the achievements of Falana...I mean a world aclaimed lawyer...just mention 3

Nice one

This is a classic reply with valid and salient points that NOI should give answers to Nigerians while in her service to Nigeria. Without being biased ....There is no way she can exonerate herself as finance and coordinating minister of the economy from the billions that were stolen in the oil and gas sector as well as the defence budget that dansuki and his friends shared amongst themselves.
In my opinion she just decided to turn a blind eye to these atrocities under her watch.

Falz's Dad has spoken!....

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala supervised the looting of our commonwealth, whether passively or actively.

She lacks character to resign when she saw all the anomalies, rather she kept quiet and watched on.

Her incompetency and ineptitude led our economy to this Golgotha.

Instead of her to hide her face in shame, she has been busy attacking everybody that genuinely questions her competency.


Children of hate, sons of perdition and daughters of bitterness over to you.

Dansiki1:
I hope you've got your alert

Oh My dear bro Dasuki or whatever it is, please take heart. Don't know it can be this painful.

Falana no be Osho Baba o! Whoever knows NOI make dem warn am, this guy will thoroughly wash her for outside o. I don talk my own

Topccy007:
Oh My dear bro Dasuki or whatever it is, please take heart. Don't know it can be this painful.

I beg no change my moniker, na Dansiki not Dasuki and I expect you to know what Dansiki means in Yoruba
To be honest I don't fancy all that FTC things, I'm only here to know what is going on in my dear country

Oh my, people are turning this thread to tribal bashing

Madam Fmr. Coordinating Minister of our Economy for years, over to you. Your response is urgently needed even why we are awaiting the Supreme Court Verdict of Dr. Adol Peter side & the Caretaker Governor of Rivers State.

No need for any back-and-court exchanges. NOI should simply meet Falana at the ICC and defend herself against these weighty allegations against her stewardship.

Na wa oh. Falana really prepare for the Iweala. He was dousing out facts and not mere speculation. Ngozi Iweala has serious questions to answer and according to Jimi Disu, she has a million dollar question to answer.

Okonjo in trouble.

She should clear herself.

Coordinating minister of corruption

What is her reason for spending without appropriation?

What is her reason for failing to save when crude oil sold at $120

What is her reason for not diversifying the economy?

She is the originator of Nigeria's economic woe

Lawyers and equation balancing are like heaven and hell.

Dansuki has never for once denied that the monies were not given to him, moreover, NOI was the one that presented Buhari with the documents that are helping him with the anti corruption war. So, why is falana obsess with this Woman? NOI does not have a military background, she was to act on the approval of the president and all disbursed funds are well documented with evidence. Do you go after bursary that made money available for the purchase of the school bus or the logistics person that signed for the money for the bus but never purchased it?

Mr. Falana is not getting it right at all.

Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, was the former minister of finance and cordinator of the national economy. She cannot say she was not aware of the wanton looting and corruption that took place during the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan vis-a-vis the Dasukigate/arms procurement scandal.


Ngozi Okonjo Iweala would be trialed by the International Criminal Court. I am very sure she would be found guilty and she would be punished appropriately. A long jail term at the Guantanamo Bay awaits her

When was falana conferred with SAN ?,,,,
coz he doesnt seem to understand the terrain he is even practising his so called profession...
does he think NOI is any low profile Nigerian tht he could play around with his radicalism..
is like he is yet to know the reputation of NOI internationally or is it coz she accepted obj plea to come & manage the economy of Nigeria when things was getting rough economically for the country,,,
abeg falana or wat u call ur self,,,park well..

There is no way Ngozi will plead not quilty to the crimes she is charged with.



She is a dubious patriot who was bent on enriching her pocket at the expense of the masses,so many things went wrong under her nose but she turn a blind eyes to them.


She should stop making scurrilous claims and face the music alone!!

Super1Star:
Ngozi Okonjo Iweala supervised the looting of our commonwealth, whether passively or actively.

She lacks character to resign when she saw all the anomalies, rather she kept quiet and watched on.

Her incompetency and ineptitude led our economy to this Golgotha.

Instead of her to hide her face in shame, she has been busy attacking everybody that genuinely questions her competency.


Children of hate, sons of perdition and daughters of bitterness over to you.

You people are just jealous of NOI because you do not have anyone among your people that has her pedigree.
Falana is a charge and bail lawyer. Let me leave NOI alone. He should go and file divorce suits for all those polygamist you have in your place

Flyoruboy:
No need for any back-and-court exchanges. NOI should simply meet Falana at the ICC and defend herself against these weighty allegations against her stewardship.

Na pull him down syndrome go wound you people. Kemi adeoshun is the new minister of finance, let us see if she can perform half as much as NOI. Jealousy people

ChetaNwaeze:
Na pull him down syndrome go wound you people. Kemi adeoshun is the new minister of finance, let us see if she can perform half as much as NOI. Jealousy people

This is not a matter of jealousy. This is a matter of accountability and probity. What is wrong with you people?

We are talking about our country here for Pete sake and how some people in their actions or inactions decided to mismanage or loot our commonwealth. She served her country and there are heavy allegations against her, let her come forth to explain. We as Nigerians deserve that.

Falana be like I am killing them thieves like jason!

ChetaNwaeze:
Na pull him down syndrome go wound you people. Kemi adeoshun is the new minister of finance, let us see if she can perform half as much as NOI. Jealousy people

What is 'pull him down' in what I said? And wetin consign Kemi? Abi na Kemi sign off on the funds in question? ? If NOI is so sure of herself she should have no qualms about defending herself anywhere.

NOI has this habit of bullying everyone that has questions for her to answer, i remember at the house rep hearing, she claimed she too sick to answer some question and then refuse to leave when asked to get attention.
You can scare soludo and Oshiomole but you can't Falana, not even Abacha could