Reps summon minister over diversion of N1.5bn

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, over the alleged diversion of N1.5 billion meant for the payment of contractors.

The funds were allegedly diverted by principal officers of the Ministry of Women Affairs.

The House Committee on Women Affairs commenced the probe in Abuja on Friday, July 5, 2024, against the backdrop of petitions by contractors over non-payment of contracts executed.

The chairman of the committee, Kafilat Ogbara, said the ministry initiated new contracts not captured in the 2023 budget and diverted N1.5 billion being funds for old contractors.

Ogbara added that the ministry, while owing contractors, awarded new contracts in 15 states of the federation, which she alleged was not captured in the 2023 budget.

”Money for contractors has not been paid and money has been diverted. So how do you pay these contractors?” the lawmaker said.

She said there was an ongoing probe of the ministry by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on the overhead release of November/December 2023 to the tune of N1.5 billion.

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The petitioners, according to Ogbara, also alleged that the ministry purchased seven tricycles for a military Barrack in Abuja.

She stated that the ministry signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American University of Nigeria in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, for the payment of Chibok girls school fees for seven years.

The Director of Finance and Administration in the ministry, Aloy Ifeakandu, said he only complied with official directives from his superiors, saying the records are available.

Ifeakandu said: “I resumed at the ministry in Sept. 2023, I wouldn’t know what happened before I came.

“The individual contractors have their files, it can be traced, as at the time I took over, there was no balance in the vote.”

The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Gabriel Aduda, exonerated himself, saying: “In 2023, we had a total budget of N13.6 billion, while the total release was N3.4 billion.”

This, according to him, translates to 25 per cent budget utilisation, while unreleased balance stood at N10.2billion.

The committee, therefore, summoned the minister to appear before it on Tuesday, July 9.

The committee also ordered the ministry to stop all contract processes in 2024, “until the matter is resolved, while demanding for the special account for the Chibok girls and the MoU.”

The Office of the Accountant General of the Federation had earlier revealed that N1.5 billion was released to the ministry.

The Star