Lawmaker representing Imo East, Senator Sam Anyanwu, has called on the Senate to

intervene in the $1 billion the Federal Government is planning to withdraw from the Excess Crude Account.

While coming on a point of order on during the plenary on Wednesday, Anyanwu said: “I will like to bring this up as a formal motion. Mr. President in few days, the television and social media have been awash with the issue of the 1 billion US dollars that was withdrawn from the Excess Crude Account. There has been a lot of controversies generated in the country.

“Some were making issues that the governors’ forum gave their consent for the withdrawal of this money. I believe it is very clear in the constitution of the section 81 (1-3), that for any withdrawal from the consolidated revenue account or any other account of the Federal Government must have the approval of the National Assembly.”

News Express reports that on December 14, the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, told State House Correspondents that the money is to be used to fight Boko Haram in the north-eastern region of the country, as approved by the National Economic Council (NEC). He said it was the resolution of the 83rd Council meeting chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osibanjo.

The decision sparked a nationwide outrage, especially when Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, dissociated himself from the move reportedly sanctioned by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and with activists and opinion leaders in strident antagonism.