The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly uncovered another withdrawal of $1.3 billion made by ex-minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, on the orders of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to reports, the money was removed from the accounts of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
The cash was ostensibly to fight kidnapping and other security threats in the Niger Delta, according to The Nation.
The withdrawal was neither authorised by the National Assembly nor the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Former coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is also believed to be unaware of the deductions.
Diezani Alison-Madueke is reported to have only relied on a memo from ex-President Goodluck Jonathan without recourse to the board of the NNPC.
A former Group Executive Director, Finance and Accounts of NNPC, Bernard Otti, has been quizzed by the anti-graft agency over the money.
Otti is said to have also made available to the EFCC some documents, including approvals to withdraw the $1.3 billion by Alison-Madueke.
In two other instances, Jonathan wrote on two other requests mandating the former minister to take part of the cash from either the NNPC Security Vote Account or from the “Gas Fund”.
