The N17bn alleged bribe, according to Okonjo-Iweala, was besides the National Assembly’s N150bn annual “standard” budget. He explained that aside from the minister’s projects, her aides, who wanted to contest seats in the National Assembly, also loaded the budget with their own projects. He said, “I don’t think the former finance minister meant that the money was a bribe. “She said the Federal Government gave extra funding to the National Assembly. In his reaction, another member of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, said he was not aware of the alleged N17bn bribe.

Source: Punch May 27, 2018 01:07 UTC