ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic is to hear allegation of how a serving minister in the current administration helped the Mobil Telecommunication Network to transfer over $12 billion out of the country.
The resolution to hear the motion in the next legislative date (Tuesday, 27/09/16) followed request by Sen. Dino Melaye (Kogi-West), who promised supporting his allegation with concrete evidence.
Senate therefore directed Sen. Melaye to present documents at the next legislative day showing evidence of the transfer for immediate investigation.
Sen. Melaye had alleged that the South African-owned MTN took away over $12 billion from Nigeria in the last 10 years.
“Mr President, I seek the indulgence of this House to move that after this short presentation, this matter be allowed to be taken on the next legislative day.
My respected colleagues MTN Nigeria paid a sum of $284.9 million dollars on the 6th of Febuary, 2001 to purchase their license of operations in this country.
I want to say with facts which by the Grace of God I will make available on the next legislative day if this motion is allowed, to all senators to see evidence that between 2006 and 2016 through four Nigerian Banks and indeed, a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and some other fradulent Nigerians, MTN have moved over $12 billion dollars out of Nigeria and that is about half of our external reserves.
If I get the nod of the Senate I will want to bring a substantive motion on Tuesday the next legislative day with substantiated facts to butress this position. Thank you”, Sen. Melaye urged.
In his response before putting the question, Senate President Bukola Saraki noted: “distinguished colleagues, according to our rules, Order 42, Senator Dino Melaye raised this issue and he needs to get the leave of the Senate to bring it down to the next legislative day”.
He then put the question which was unanimously approved.
