BEVERLY HILLS, September 22, (THEWILL) – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the FCT and lawmaker representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye on Thursday stated that one of the major telecom service providers, MTN Nigeria has been involved in gross money laundering.
Melaye, who made this disclosure under Order 42 of the Senate rule was particularly pained, said Nigeria is “in a precarious situation and now is the time to recover every stolen money in the country”.
He revealed that, “between 2006 and 2016, the MTN Nigeria, in collaboration with four commercial banks and with the help of a serving Minister, has moved over $12bn out of this country.”
The lawmaker said he would move the substantive motion in the next legislative day with concrete evidences if given the opportunity, stressing that at the crucial moment when the nation is facing economic challenges, all hands must be on deck to recover every money looted from the country.
Ruling on the point of order, the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki granted Dino Melaye the privilege of moving the substantive motion during the next Senate plenary.
Also speaking during the day’s sitting, the lawmaker representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege strongly opposed the sales of national assets, arguing that when Russia went into recession, they never contemplated selling their assets, but approached the situation by deliberate reinvestment which made them better afterwards.
Omo-Agege stressed that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, generates over $22billion per annum, hence, selling it off alongside other assets would be the biggest mistake of the century.
“Mr. President, Distinguished Colleagues, I vehemently opposed sales of national assets particularly the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) which generates over $22billion annually,” he said.
“If the nation sold its asset as a result of recession, if in 20 years time, there was a repeat of recession; what would they sell?” he asked.
The senator stated that peace in Niger Delta was paramount at this time, explaining that the Federal government should avoid discussing ceasefire with some individuals who have developed themselves at the expense of the people in the region.
He lamented that over the years, certain individuals from the region have used crises to enrich themselves, saying each time there was militancy, they continue to frontier peace deal to further their interest.
“I want federal government to negotiate with militants in Niger Delta region with caveat, because over time, few individuals have developed themselves at the expense of the people,” Omo-Agege stated.
