BREAKING: Lawmakers fault Buhari’s $496m Tucano aircraft purchase without due process.

 

Naijawapenews.blogspot.com

Apr 26, 2018 12:36 P

File photo of a Tucano aircraft

‎Leke Baiyewu, Abuja

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the plenary on Wednesday read a letter from President



Muhammadu Buhari seeking the approval of the legislature for the withdrawal of $496m from the Excess 



Crude Account for the purchase of military aircraft.

Buhari, in the letter, however, disclosed that the money had been withdrawn and paid to the United States 



for the 12 Super Tucano aircraft, ahead of legislative approval.

This, he said, was done to beat the deadline for the arms deal.The planes will be delivered in 2020.

The President said, “Recently, approval was granted by the United States government, but with a deadline, 


within which part payment must be made otherwise the contract relapses.

“In the expectation that the National Assembly will have no objection to the purchase of these highly 



specialized aircraft, which is critical to national security, I granted anticipatory 

approval for the release of $496,374,470.

“This was paid directly into the treasury of the United States government." I am therefore writing, seeking 



approval of the Senate for the sum of $496,374,470 (equivalent to 

N151,394, 421,035) to be included in the 2018 Appropriation Bill which the National Assembly is 



currently finalizing.

“The balance for the requirement for critical operational equipment is still being collated from the different 



security services and will be presented in the form of a supplementary 

appropriation bill in due course.”

Buhari recalled that due to the “security emergencies” in the country, which was discussed with state 



governors, the National Economic Council on December 14, 2017 approved that 

 up to $1bn be released and utilized from the Excess Crude Account to address the situation.

Senator Mathew Uroghide (PDP, Edo-South), however, raised a point of order to declare Buhari’s action “



illegal.”

Uroghide said in part, “I heard very clearly when you read the letter that came from Mr. President over the 



payment that was made for the Tucano aircraft. I was completely taken 

aback because I represent a people.

“This is as letter that you just read to us now, with due respect to the office and the status of Mr. President, I 



want to say that what he just said, which you just read to us, is a violation 

of some of the provisions of the Constitution.

 “I stand on it with every vehemence and I want to read Section 80 (1),(2),(3) and (4) of the Constitution.”

The lawmaker read the sections of the Constitution he made reference to.

He added, “What you just read to us violates these provisions. Mr. President couldn’t have ever, and no 


Nigerian citizen that is up and active under the provisions of the Constitution, is 

allowed to make any disbursement or any approval coming from any quarter, whether it is by the Council of



State of the Federation or the committee of the governors or anybody in the Presidency, without approval or 


appropriation from this Assembly.

“I think it important that we remind ourselves, because if we sit down here, tomorrow, posterity will judge 



us.”

Saraki interrupted Uroghide, noting that the matter would be taken at another time. He however admitted 



that the lawmaker had raised a valid point.

The Senate President also hinted that the matter might be raised at the next legislative day (Thursday) based 


on its importance and urgency.