$9.6bn: Aondoakaa Speaks On How FG Can Escape The Charges

Following the $9.6bn charges against Nigeria, the former Attorney-General of the Federation, Michael Aondoakaa, has urged the Federal Government to file corruption charges against representatives of the Process and Industrial Developments firm.

Aondoakaa stated that the corruption charges should be filed against them for entering into a sham contract with some unscrupulous Nigerians.

He made this stand during an interview with Sunrise Daily on Channels Television on Monday.

“Everyone involved must face the law including the foreigner. You cannot do this in the United States,” he said.

Aondoakaa noted that the contract with P&ID was illegal because it was not approved by the Federal Executive Council, he further stated that there was no budgetary provision for such a contract.

He added that with the executive council unaware of the contract, the deal is unlawful.

He, therefore, advised the government to tackle the issue from the root since illegality cannot be the foundation of a legitimate contract.

Aondoakaa claimed that if fraud could be established in the contract, the matter could be voided.

Aondoakaa said the contract was in contravention of the Infrastructural Regulatory Commission Act and Public Procurement Act.

“This happened in secrecy. I contacted the DG of the Infrastructural Regulatory Commission and he was also shocked. Everything that is coming to us now is shocking. Ignorance of law is no excuse. If you are a foreign country coming to Nigeria, you ought to know the law. You ought to know if the contract was appropriated in the budget.”

He said the President himself has no power to unilaterally approve contracts without recourse to the Federal Executive Council.

The former AGF said Section 5 of the constitution, as well as Sections 2 and 3 of the Infrastructural Regulatory Commission Act, are clear on this.

“The President doesn’t have the power to give even anticipatory approval,” Aondoakaa said.

The former Attorney-General of the Federation stated that FG should not negotiate with P&ID because doing so could validate the fraudulent contract

“If you are alluding to fraud, you cannot negotiate at the same time with them”

“Fraud can vitiate a valid contract,” he added.

Aondoakaa further questioned parts of the contract which he described as invalid.

“Part of the contract has to do with Bakassi which was part of Cameroon by 2009. So, I wonder whether they expected Nigeria to enter into a contract on behalf of another sovereign nation,” he said.