Philip Agbese Defends Wike Over FCT Borrowing Claims
Philip Agbese says Nyesom Wike followed established procedures for FCT borrowing and remained subject to National Assembly oversight.
FCT borrowing approval has come under scrutiny after Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, rejected claims that Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, secured loans without National Assembly approval.
Agbese was responding to allegations by Senator Ireti Kingibe that the FCT Administration had borrowed funds without obtaining the required legislative approval.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, Agbese described the allegation as misleading. He said there was no evidence that Wike had bypassed the National Assembly or broken any law while securing funds for projects and programmes in the FCT.
The lawmaker explained that public borrowing operates through constitutional, legal and administrative processes involving several government institutions.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He also pointed to Wike’s continued engagement with lawmakers as evidence of legislative oversight. According to Agbese, the FCT Administration has regularly presented its budgets for consideration and appeared before relevant National Assembly committees.
He argued that a rise in the FCT’s debt profile, on its own, did not prove that the administration had entered into an illegal borrowing arrangement.
Agbese maintained that using borrowed funds to finance infrastructure development was not unlawful, provided the necessary approvals and established procedures were followed.
“The critical issue is whether the required approvals and procedures have been followed,” he added.
The lawmaker further dismissed suggestions that Wike had operated without effective legislative supervision. He said the National Assembly had continued to carry out its constitutional oversight responsibilities over the FCT Administration.
“Under our searchlight, the FCT Minister is one of the most legislatively compliant public servants. He has consistently engaged the National Assembly and subjected the activities of the FCT Administration to legislative scrutiny,” he said.
Agbese called on lawmakers and other stakeholders to support allegations about public borrowing with evidence, including details of specific transactions and official documents, rather than relying on political claims.
He said that if Senator Kingibe or any other interested party had concerns about particular borrowing arrangements, they should identify the transactions involved. The relevant authorities could then be asked to provide the documents and approvals connected to those arrangements.
The dispute therefore centres on whether the FCT Administration followed the required procedures when obtaining funds, rather than whether borrowing for development projects is permitted.
Agbese’s position is that FCT borrowing approval must be assessed through the relevant legal and administrative processes and supported by documentary evidence before claims of wrongdoing can be established.
Do you think allegations about public borrowing should always be supported by specific transactions and official documents?
