Okonjo-Iweala exposes Oshiomole’s ‘suspicious’ N15 bn loan request

Former Minister of Finance,  Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has explained how she refused to grant N15 billion loan request by Adama Oshiomole which would have thrown the poor state into huge indebtedness.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that as recently confirmed by the Debt Management Office, professional analysis showed that Oshiomhole’s loan request which was based on using low interest World Bank loan to offset high interest commercial loans would have left Edo state with a heavy debt burden and the the state would have found it very difficult to pay back.

“It is an abuse of public office, the judicial process and myhuman rights for Governor Oshiomhole whom I stopped from taking a highly suspicious N15 billion loan to make false allegations against me while hiding behind the constitutional immunity granted state governors,” the former minister noted Wednesday, in a mailed  statement signed by her media Adviser, Paul Nwabuikwu.

She further requested the Federal Government to call.Oshiomhole to order over his recent efforts to link her name to the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue, denying absolutely anything to do with the issue.

The Nigerian government has made high profile arrests in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged $2.1 billion arms issue.

Newspaper reports had quoted Oshiomhole as calling for  the prosecution on the mmediate past finance minister, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, for having approved that the said funds be released.

Denying knowing anything about such approvals, Okonjo-Iweala said that it is unconscionable for the Governor to embark on a campaign of lies against her because she thwarted his dubious loan request.

She described the Governor’s unsubstantiated allegations as a cynical personalization of the anti-corruption campaign to achieve ignoble objectives.

Okonjo-Iweala therefore put Oshiomhole and his ilk on notice that she has briefed her lawyers and that she is ready to explore all legal means, local and international, to defend her name against corrupt and compromised persons.

“It has become a pattern of behavior that each time Dr. Ngozi OKonjo-Iweala is internationally recognized, Governor Oshiomole and his cohorts embark on a cynical and devious ploy of trying to pull her down locally,” the statement read in part.

“Just last night, December 1st, Dr Okonjo-Iweala was honored at a high profile event attended by Vice President Joe Biden and former President Bill Clinton. Dr Okonjo Iweala was honored alongside Michael Bloomberg, Bill and Melinda Gates and Mo Ibrahim for their contributions to global development and humanity.

Onyinye Nwachukwu