Thursday, August 27, 2026 - The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ireti Kingibe, has accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of taking loans without the approval of the National Assembly.
Speaking on Channels TV recently, the senator said she had
raised concerns with the Senate leadership over the FCT minister’s borrowings.
“I have
never seen Wike come to the national assembly and before the senate to ask for
approval of anything,” she said.
Kingibe said FCT budgets are usually presented to the Senate
through the relevant committee for consideration before being approved by the
upper legislative chamber.
She, however, alleged that Wike had never sought legislative
approval for the loans he obtained for the nation’s capital.
“I am
definitely saying he has been taking loans without the approval of the national
assembly. I don’t know about the house, but certainly not the senate,” she
said.
The senator said she became aware of the loans after
reviewing information from the Debt Management Office (DMO) covering borrowings
from August 2023 to March 2026.
Kingibe challenged anyone disputing her claim to provide
evidence that Wike appeared before the national assembly to seek approval for
the loans.
“If anybody
contradicts me, they should bring the Votes and Proceedings of the day that
Wike came to the national assembly to ask for approval for anything,” she said
Kingibe added that President Bola Tinubu, from whom Wike
derives his powers, submits requests for loans and appointments to the national
assembly, adding that Wike’s powers could not exceed those of the
commander-in-chief.
0 Comments