AGF Malami Forced Us To Convert $40 Million Recovered Loot At N305 Per Dollar — Keystone Bank
According to Keystone Bank, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, issued a directive that a portion of the $136 million owed to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) be paid in naira equivalent.
The bank revealed this during a meeting of the Ad-hoc Committee on Assessment and Status of All Recovered Loots, Movable and Immovable Assets, which encompassed loots and assets recovered by federal government agencies from 2002 to 2020.
Mr Malami, who had determined that a total of $136,676,600.51 was to be paid to NNPC, ordered that 96 million be paid in dollars and 40 million in naira be paid.
“Out of this entire amount, we paid $96 million in United States dollars and we paid the equivalent of $40 million in naira,” according to Lawal Ahmed.
Mr Ahmed, who is the Executive Director, North and Public Sector Directorate, Keystone Bank, also said that Mr Malami recommended the exchange rate at N305 to a dollar.
“That was the directive by the Attorney-General at the rate of N305 to a dollar,” Mr Ahmed noted, although it is unclear when the transactions were carried out.
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When the chairman of the committee, Adejoro Adeogun, queried why funds meant for Brass LNG Investment account was remitted in a different account, Mr Ahmed stated that the bank had remitted all funds belonging to the NNPC.
“We were paying into the Brass LNG’s NNPC account in the TSA and at the time the Attorney-General gave the directive, he instructed that the funds be credited to the FGN Assets Recovery Account,” the bank official said.
Mr Adeogun, while presenting a document to Mr Ahmed, explained that the figures in the transactions differ from the one obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
However, the bank representative argued that “The first item, which is N12,421,794,504.88 is the equivalent of $40m at N305, which was directed to the FGN Assets Recovery Account.
“There were two accounts: Brass LNG and OML 40. At the time this (AGF) letter was written, I believe that we had not concluded payment yet. The final payments were made thereafter in tranches,” Mr Ahmed added.
Reacting, a member of the committee, Olanrewaju Edun, criticised Mr Malami for issuing such directives, suggesting that the AGF be subjected to questioning.
“Out of the $40m that you claimed, the Attorney-General gave you a letter. As far as I am concerned, I don’t know why you have to take a letter from the Attorney-General.
“This is Nigeria’s money owned by the three tiers of government. We can take you up on that.
“Mr Chairman, I believe that my constituency has been robbed of money. Yes. And we need to contest that letter.
“I don’t know why the Attorney-General had to issue a letter that something that was transacted in dollars should be paid in naira rate when you have differential rates in Nigeria,” he added.
