President Muhammadu Buhari was misled to approve $469 million for the procurement of 12 Super Tucano aircraft from the US without the backing of the national assembly, a source told TheCable.

The money was said to have been withdrawn from the excess crude account (ECA).

In August, the US government sold the aircraft to Nigeria to enable it combat the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east.

An embargo had been placed on Nigeria owing to allegations of gross human right abuses against the military.

In a letter to the leadership of the national assembly dated April 13, 2018, the president explained that the United States had given Nigeria a deadline for payment, hence the reason he approved the money without consulting the legislators.

Buhari also sought the inclusion of the procurement of the aircraft into the 2018 budget which the national assembly is still working on.

The source said the lawmakers, particularly those in house of representatives, are not happy with the development, adding that the president cut short his UK trip in order to address the issue.

In the statement issued to announce Buhari’s trip, the date of his return was not disclosed.

“The approval for $469 million for Tucano aircraft is an impeachable offence. What us happening right now is that some people in the executive set Buhari up,” the source said.

“They made him send a letter to the national assembly and the letter is saying that money has already been disbursed without seeking approval which is an impeachable offence.

“This is part of the reason why the president came back into the country. He is thinking of calling the leadership of the national assembly for a meeting.

“These people gave the president wrong information. Right the house of representatives have a copy of the letter that the money had already been disbursed but then it has not been appropriated. A lot of members of the house are not happy.”

Efforts to get a reaction from Garba Shehu, spokesman of the president, were not successful as calls to his phone did not go through and a text message was not replied.

Mansur Dan-Ali, minister of defence, had said Buhari gave the approval for the money to be released but Ita Enang, senior special assistant to the president on national assembly matters, later contradicted Dan Ali.

The presidential aide said Buhari had not approved the release of the money from the excess crude account as claimed by the minister, adding that the approval given to the federal government by the national economic council was undergoing the “normal legislative process” before the national assembly.

SalamRushdie:
Misled? Misled? Misled indeed!!!! When are people going to start allowing this Buhari man take the blame for his actions ABI is Buhari an slowpoke who can't make a single sound decision for himself ?

BeeBeeOoh:
Who no sabi no sabi, person wey see school gate but chose to enter bush will always behave like a bushman.




Lest i forget, you want an answer right? This pic below has it

littlewonders:


Those who contributed to bringing this man to power will never be forgiven if they don't bring in a younger person come 2019.

seunmsg:
The headline is simply sensational and a product of the imagination of the editors of cable news. The president was not misled and nothing in the piece above suggested that he was misled. He simply gave an anticipatory approval and he stated it clearly in his letter to the national assembly.

seunmsg:
The headline is simply sensational and a figment of the imagination of the editors of cable news. The president was not misled and nothing in the piece above suggested that he was misled. He simply gave an anticipatory approval and he stated it clearly in his letter to the national assembly.

We had a deadline to beat and considering that we've been negotiating for this military equipment since the time of Jonathan, the presidents decision is the only patriotic option available. The money was paid directly into US governments treasury and not to middle men. That alone brings some level of confidence that corruption is not involved. It would have been worrying if cash was loaded on to a private jet and flown illegally to middle men in US as it was done during the Jonathan days.

It is now left for the national assembly to regularise the procurement by including it in the 2018 appropriation act that is still before them as requested by the president.

GavelSlam:
The excess crude account does not need parliamentary approval as the account was created between the state and federal executive.


In court it may yet be declared an illegal account but until that is done it would continue to be operated.

This is the same account that Jonathan was dipping his sticky fingers into without consulting with the governors which eventually led to his sack.
In this case , the president did consult with the state executives.

Some very slow contributor is asking how the account was funded but his 386 processor brain hasn't considered our budget and the recent surplus gained.

The president should be commended for acting swiftly and in the best interest of the nation.

chichar1:
taaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!! close your mouth!!!!