Finance minister to return to US after Buhari's inauguration

It is believed that most officials of the Jonathan administration are traveling out of the country to avoid prosecution by the incoming government.

Ngozi-Okonjo Iweala

Report says the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has concluded plans to return to the United States after the May 29 inauguration of Muhammadu Buhari.

Also billed to jet out of the country after the swearing in are President Goodluck Jonathan, who had said he will take a much deserved rest, and Vice President Namani Sambo.

It is believed that most officials of the Jonathan administration are traveling out of the country to avoid prosecution by the incoming government.

Sambo is said to be traveling to London on May 31. Report says he also going to rest and billed to be back in the country after two weeks.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Umar Sani, dismissed insinuations that the VP may be traveling to evade Buhari’s prosecution.

“There is nothing to fear. Vice-President Namadi Sambo is not afraid of any persecution or victimisation by the incoming government. His planned trip has nothing to do with fear. If he is afraid of anything, he would have gone before May 29,” Sani said.

It was gather that Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Allison-Madueke, who has travelled out of the country already, is billed to return to attend the last Federal Executive Council meeting of Jonathan’s administration.

She is scheduled to travel back after the FEC meeting.

However, the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said no amount of road block could stop him from travelling to any country of his choice.

Shekarau also dared the incoming administration to proceed and mount a checkpoint for him in the crusade against corruption, adding that he had nothing to hide.