₦airaland Forum

Former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has reacted to a call by senior lawyer, Femi Falana, for her prosecution for crimes against humanity.

Mr. Falana had written to the International Criminal Court urging the trial of past and serving military and civilian Nigerian officials, indicted in an ongoing investigation into the diversion of billions of money meant for purchase of arms to fight Boko Haram.

“The failure of a former Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to prevent widespread and systematic corruption including the re-looting of the Abacha loot amounts to complicity under the Rome Statute, and therefore fits the legal requirements of a crime against humanity,” Mr. Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria wrote.

In her reaction Monday, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala dismissed the call as a “desperate joke by an integrity challenged charlatan”.

Read full statement:

The malicious attempt by Lagos Lawyer, Femi Falana to mix Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala up in issues that have nothing to do with her in his letter to the International Criminal Court (ICC) is a desperate joke by an integrity challenged charlatan (ICC).

This misadventure shows that the so-called learned lawyer does not have any idea of what the mandate of the ICC is about.

He has resorted to this action because his previous efforts to tarnish her name – through his discredited NGO, SERAP and petitions to the EFCC – failed because they were lacking in credibility.

This latest effort to try to attach her name falsely confirms that Femi Falana is nothing but a tool of corrupt elements whose interests were hurt by the work Dr. Okonjo-Iweala did in fighting corruption while she was in office.

These elements have now made a habit of making false allegations against Dr Okonjo-Iweala whenever she receives any national or international recognition for her work. The pattern is clear and Nigerians should be alert to it. But Dr Okonjo-Iweala will not be intimidated from going on with her life and performing her duties. She will not give in to cowardly and unmanly bullying.

Falana’s latest attempt to implicate Dr Okonjo-Iweala falsely suggests that he is suffering from an ailment that may be described as Chronic Cerebral Amnesia (CCA) because he simply has no grasp of the facts.

Here are the facts:

FACT NO 1: OKONJO-IWEALA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE $2.1 BILLION ARMS CONTROVERSY

Contrary to Falana’s lies, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has absolutely nothing to do with the alleged misuse of $2.1billion by the office of the former National Security Adviser. Falana and his sponsors are simply trying to invent a connection where there is none.

The January 20, 2015 memo in which Dr Okonjo-Iweala sought and received the approval of former President Jonathan for the release of part of the newly returned Abacha funds to the NSA for purchase of arms is totally separate from the $2.1 billion issue.

The memo which is now in the public domain speaks for itself. The release of the resources was in response to an approval by the former President following a meeting chaired by him after a committee had considered the request.

The memo clearly documented Dr Okonjo-Iweala’s insistence that the proper procedure be followed, subject to appropriation and according to financial regulations. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala went further to state that the former NSA should account for the funds to the former President since she is not a member of the Security Council. The attempt to link Okonjo-Iweala to the $2.1billion issue is therefore dead on arrival.

FACT NO 2: OKONJO-IWEALA WAS NOT IN GOVERNMENT WHEN MOST OF THE ABACHA FUNDS WERE RECOVERED

Falana and his sponsors have claimed that billions of dollars of Abacha funds were recovered and that Dr Okonjo-Iweala should account for the recovered funds.

The fact is that some of the funds recovery was done under the regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar and the first term of President Olusegun Obasanjo when Dr Okonjo-Iweala was not even in government.

During the time Dr Okonjo-Iweala was Finance Minister in the second Obasanjo administration, $500m was recovered. As documented by the Field Study conducted by the World Bank with the assistance of national and international NGOs, this amount was properly applied.

Falana’s insistence on the contrary shows how despicable he is and how he is ready to ignore facts and concoct a fiction in the service of his sponsors.

FACT 3: OKONJO-IWEALA LEFT STRONG LEGACIES AS A CHAMPION OF TRANSPARENCY AND THE FIGHT AGAINST ​CORRUPTION WHILE IN GOVERNMENT

It is on record that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala championed transparency and vigorously fought corruption during her two terms as Minister. Among other actions, starting from the second Obasanjo administration, she, for the first time in Nigeria’s history, published monthly revenue allocations to all tiers of government for Nigerians to see.

​​While serving in the Obasanjo administration, she requested the assistance of the World Bank and DFID, the UK’s development agency to build institutions and systems that could block leakages from the treasury. This work stalled after she left office in 2006. In August 2011 when she returned under the Jonathan government, with the assistance of the Ministry of Finance Team, she re-invigorated the establishment and use of the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Management Systems (IPPIS), the Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA), all of which saved the country billions of naira by drastically reducing avenues for corruption in the public service. These facts are well documented in successive World Bank, DFID and IMF Article 4 Reports.

It is gratifying that the present government has adopted and is further building on these systems for the benefit of the country.

FACT NO 4: DR. OKONJO-IWEALA’S MOTHER WAS KIDNAPPED AND ALMOST KILLED BECAUSE OF THE FORMER MINISTER’S STANCE AGAINST CORRUPTION

Falana is callous beyond belief for ignoring a fact of recent Nigerian history: the kidnap of Professor Kamene Okonjo, the then 83 year old mother of Dr Okonjo-Iweala by agents of fuel subsidy fraudsters who were angry that the former Minister had blocked them from defrauding the country further.

The kidnappers had told the traumatised old woman that they were sent to punish Okonjo-Iweala for refusing to pay some oil marketers. It is on record with the State Security Services that the kidnappers initially demanded the resignation of Dr Okonjo-Iweala in return for the release of her mother. Thank God Professor Okonjo is still alive to tell her story today and she will not be silenced.

It is extremely insensitive and, in fact, inhumane for Falana and his sponsors to level false accusations against someone like Dr Okonjo-Iweala who went through this kind of searing personal ordeal for her principled fight against corruption.

CONCLUSION

Falana’s attempt to implicate Dr Okonjo-Iweala falsely is a disservice to law, justice and the image of the country. It is sad that a person who had earned some prominence as a human rights lawyer now tramples on the human rights of others as a political jobber.

He and his sponsors are engaged in nothing but media harassment, cyber bullying and intimidation against innocent persons like Dr Okonjo-Iweala for political and pecuniary gain. That is why Nigerians should not give in to Falana’s self-imposed Chronic Cerebral Amnesia (CCA)

Very true because he has made himself a noise maker! Anyway old age is seriously telling on him.

Falana has made himself a puppet of Tinubu.
As for Buhari, he should know that Okonjo GEJ have nothing to do with his atrocities being presented to ICC by those international white lawyers

Go and defend yourself NOI if you no get case you have nothing to fear. Let God decide if you can escape this one.

Shots fired by 'okonjo dollars!'

'Charge and bail Falana' over to you!!!!

NGOZI THE MOST SCAMMER IN THE WORLD THEY WILL HANG. HER AT LAST.

Who get wailers form abegggggggggggo

baby124:
Go and defend yourself NOI if you no get case you have nothing to fear. Let God decide if you can escape this one.

You talking Nonsense. you guys have failed to use EFCC and now you guys are resorting to ICC to make it look like there is corruption case against NOI. Bunch of bitter individuals. No matter what you and Falana do, None of you will ever be recognised world wide like NOI. She will continue to receive international honour for her impressive service of Nigeria and the world.

Sealeddeal:
You talking Nonsense. you guys have failed to use EFCC and now you guys are resorting to ICC to make it look like there is corruption case against NOI. Bunch of bitter individuals. No matter what you and Falana do, None of you will ever be recognised world wide like NOI. She will continue to receive international honour for her impressive service of Nigeria and the world.

The innocent fear no guilt. Let her go and defend herself against the charges. All these rants will not make Falana withdraw the suit. Lesson for the future, when given power, conduct yourself with integrity. Because power is transient.

The typical tomato seller response.
The wrong thought process, the wrong values.
South Korea or China and this woman will be facing the firing squad.
The semi literate jackboot also known as Obasanjo was able to protect most of the country's nest egg from vultures and even had the consciousness to implement many patriotic policies.
This so called world bank non expert.........................

We will keep beating the drum. They can keep her in America to work her wonders over there.

This foolish woman should be ashamed of herself. Now we know truly what turncoat you are.

[size=14pt]This is total humiliation Coming from a woman makes it "abominable humiliation" on Falana!
Mr. "Integrity Challenged Chalartan"[/size]

baby124:
The innocent fear no guilt. Let her go and defend herself against the charges. All these rants will not make Falana withdraw the suit. Lesson for the future, when given power, conduct yourself with integrity. Because power is transient.

Nobody is begging Falana to withdraw the suite. In fact, Falana himself know that his suit is baseless. His intent is to send a wrong message to the world that NOI is corrupt so that the world will start to see her in bad light. NOI fears nothing. The many accusation written against her and sent to EFCC has all been thrown into dustbin. ICC have important issues to treat than Falana's dance of shame.

Sealeddeal:
Nobody is begging Falana to withdraw the suite. In fact, Falana himself know that his suit is baseless. His intent is to send a wrong message to the world that NOI is corrupt so that the world will start to see her in bad light. NOI fears nothing. The many accusation written against her and sent to EFCC has all been thrown into dustbin. ICC have important issues to treat than Falana's dance of shame.

ICC will not find her guilty if she is not corrupt. However, she is to be held responsible and should expect that, because of the position she played in the last dispensation. She was one of the most important players, and so much atrocity happened under that government. That can never be overlooked or forgotten. Let her go and defend herself.

Validated:
[size=14pt]This is total humiliation Coming from a woman makes it "abominable humiliation" on Falana!
Mr. "Integrity Challenged Chalartan"[/size]

that Man na ICC finally.

so they kidnapped your parents cuz you were fighting corruption, and your government no think it fit to release a report on that? Ngozi, why are you lying lying lying.
your 2+2=9 9 9

baby124:
ICC will not find her guilty if she is not corrupt. However, she is to be held responsible and should expect that, because of the position she played in the last dispensation. She was one of the most important players, and so much atrocity happened under that government. That can never be overlooked or forgotten. Let her go and defend herself.

all you guys are looking is just a means to nail that woman. But judging for the angle you guys are coming from shows that she is totally innocent. She has no case to answer. So NOI has suddenly become NSA, Ministry of defence or CDS or on what ground is she connected to Dasuki's sharing of money? Corruption and looting of public fund will continue to happen.it has never stopped in any country. She has done her part of blocking some of the channels through which it happened.NOI was minister of Finance and cordinator of nigerian economy.

johnmartus:
SHE IS THE MOST SCAMMER IN THE WORLD SHE WILL SOON BE HANG.

Go back to primary school and re-learn d use of tenses.