Controversy trails missing $49.8bn fund

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mallam Lamido Sanusi

The Northern Elders Forum and the Trade Union Congress have cautioned the Federal Government against ignoring calls by the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido  Sanusi, for a probe into the oil $49.8bn  fund unaccounted for by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

Spokesman for the NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi,  in an interview in Abuja, on Thursday, said by virtue of his position, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria would not have made such a claim if he was not sure about his facts.”

Abdullahi said, “If there is anybody who knows more about the economy of Nigeria it should be the governor of the Central Bank.

“If he says money has been stolen, then it has been stolen.  “Let anyone who has any information which will controvert what the CBN governor has said should come out with his own facts.’’

Speaking on the same issue, the Convener of the Coalition of Northern Intellectuals, Politicians and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said allegations that trillions of naira were missing required urgent attention.

This, he said, was required to redeem the nation’s already battered image.

Meanwhile, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, has described the allegation by Sanusi as baseless.

Yakubu, who addressed a news conference in Abuja, accused Sanusi  of policising the issue of missing fund.

He said, “I want to say the allegation is unfounded. It is baseless and it has become a political instrument in the currently politically charged environment.”