👤 By Danjuma Aliyu 

President Muhammadu Buhari is under fire for approving the sum of $462 million (equivalent to N151,394,421,335.00) from the Excess Crude Account, ECA.

Nigeria’s Commander-in-Chief is said to have authorised the release of the money without the approval of the National Assembly.

On Wednesday, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara read a letter from President Buhari, 75, where he explained the reason for approving the money – a decision which is seen as a breach of the constitution.

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To withdraw funds from the ECA, the President is mandated to seek approval from the  National Assembly and the 36 state Houses of Assembly.

“No moneys shall be withdrawn from any public fund of the Federation, other than the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation unless the issue of those moneys has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly,” Section 80 (3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution reads.

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As a result, social critics are calling for lawmakers to take immediate action against the 75-year-old President, who recently announced a bid for a second term.

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On April 26, Senator Matthew Urhoghide cited Orders 15, 42 & 52, stated that President Buhari has violated the “process, proceedings and the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The motion was seconded by Senator Chukwuka Utazi.

He said : “I rise to second this motion with Section 80 subsection 2 and 3. We are still on the appropriation bill, we have not finished it, Service chiefs were appointed without the approval of the Senate.”