25/10/2019
In 1963, Nigeria's Minister of Defence in the First Republic, Muhammadu Ribadu was Acting Prime Minister while Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was out of the capital, Lagos.
Ribadu was also Acting Finance Minister at the same time. When he purchased a new office building for the Ministry of Defence, he wrote in his file:
"As Minister of Defence, I have bought the new office. As Minister of Finance, I have approved the purchase. And as Prime Minister, I have no objection."
When the Finance Minister, Festus Okotie-Eboh returned, his permanent secretary reported Ribadu's action as it was unusual.
Okotie-Eboh then asked him if Ribadu was the Defence Minister. The secretary said he was. He asked him if he was the Acting Minister of Finance. He said yes. He then asked him if he was the Acting Prime Minister, he said he was.
He then asked the permanent secretary on what he should do. He said nothing.
End of discussion.