There has been an intense argument between the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development and the minister of women affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye. This is in regards to an investigative hearing into the alleged diversion of N1.5 billion in contract funds.
According to Leadership, the minister was summoned to appear before the committee on Tuesday to explain how they spent the money already released. The argument became intense when Kennedy Uju was asked to account for monies meant for contractors that were paid by the Accountant General Office.
Responding to this question, she said only 30 percent of the total sum meant for contractors was paid to her ministry. She added that she cannot account for the money as the current First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has advised her to mind her business.
She said her ministry would have cleared some of these liabilities if the money for this year had not been delayed. She said that no project money has been released to any ministry since the beginning of the year. “If not for the fact for the fact that the money this year has been delayed, I‘m sure we wouldn‘t be here today. We could have paid out some of these liabilities. But since this year, no project money has been released to any ministry. And that was a constraint,“ she said.
Another committee member by name, Hon. Marie Nenemete Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa), questioned the Minister on the African First Lady Peace Mission project of about N500 million, asking her to tell lawmakers how the money was utilized, where the project was located, and who was involved.
Responding to this question, the minister said that the N150 million that was appropriated in 2023 was eventually given to the former first lady, Aisha Buhari, who eventually told her it was meant for the purchase of a generator.
On the issue of the First Lady’s funds, the minister said that the $500 million they were talking about didn’t happen during her time as minister. She said that she only saw it in the Appropriation Act when she came in as minister. She added that she discussed the matter with Remi Tinubu, and she told her that the money was meant for the former First Lady………..See More
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