Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South, has disclosed that the National Assembly was not consulted or asked for approval regarding the acquisition of a refurbished presidential aircraft (Airbus A330) for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The unveiling of the aircraft in August drew widespread criticism, with many Nigerians accusing the President of prioritizing personal luxury despite the country’s economic challenges.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga clarified at the time that the aircraft was not a new purchase but a refurbished one. However, critics also accused the National Assembly of approving the deal without proper scrutiny. Senator Abaribe refuted these allegations during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, asserting that no such request was ever brought before the legislative body.
He stated, “I am in the National Assembly, but I can tell you for a fact that nobody—quote me—nobody brought anything to the National Assembly to say, ‘please approve this for the purchase of a new plane.’ It was done without my knowledge. Nobody brought anything. I never saw any document, and I have always been in the National Assembly. Ask anyone—none.”
Abaribe expressed concern over the Presidency bypassing the legislative process, emphasizing that this undermines the National Assembly’s constitutional role in providing checks and balances on the executive arm.
He also lamented the perception that lawmakers merely rubber-stamp executive decisions. According to him, this impression persists because legislators, despite their efforts to assert their independence, often find their actions yielding little visible impact, leading to a more cooperative stance with the executive.
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