26/02/2014

$20BN: OKONJO-IWEALA INSISTS ON FORENSIC AUDIT

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala  has insisted on knowing the whole truth about the alleged missing $20bn believed to have led to the
suspension of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

She stated this in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Finance Ministry. According to the statement, the minister, “asked for urgent action with regard to an independent forensic audit of
conflicting claims of unaccounted funds made by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamdio Sanusi.”

Okonjo Iweala added that, “My position on this has been clear from the start. The Ministry of Finance’s reconciliation showed a shortfall of $10.8bn in NNPC remittances to the Federation account. After
this, the conflicting claims continued with new figures such as $20bn being mentioned.

“So since 13th February, I have called for an independent forensic audit. President Goodluck Jonathan indeed announced last night that there will be an investigation into whether there are any funds
missing from NNPC.

“He also indicated that the correct process needs to be followed in this investigation and I understand that the entity that has the proper authority to initiate such an investigation is the Auditor General
of the federation.

“I therefore want to see the truth from an investigation under the auspices of the Auditor General, which in my view should be undertaken as a matter of extreme urgency by independent external
auditor.”
(tellng)

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