Reps, Minister Clash Over N1.5bn Fraud Allegation

Minister, Reps in Heated Exchange Over Fraud Claim

Speaker and minister exchange words about said N1.5 billion fraud...

Minister and Reps clash over alleged N1.5bn fraud. Heated exchange during investigation hearing into contract funds misappropriation. Minister's responses deemed unsatisfactory by committee.

The Minister of Women's Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye, and the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development got into a heated exchange during the investigation hearing regarding the purported misappropriation of N1.5 billion in contract funds.

Kennedy-Ohaneye was called by the committee to come before it on Tuesday and provide an explanation for the whereabouts of the funds that had already been released.

Kennedy-Ohaneye responded by saying that even though her ministry received thirty percent of the total amount intended for contractors, she was unable to provide an accounting of how the funds were used because first lady Oluremi Tinubu had told her to mind her own business.

“If not that the money of this year has been delayed, I'm sure we wouldn't be here today. Because 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.

Hon. Marie Nenemete Ebikake (PDP, Bayelsa), a committee member, questioned the minister on the N500 million African First Lady Peace Mission project, asking her to provide legislators with information regarding the project's location, who was engaged, and how the funds were used.

“Honorable Minister and Permanent Secretary with DFA, last time when we came, that was on Thursday, we did raise an issue of African First Lady Peace Mission projects. Unfortunately, we didn't get any concrete answer to the issue.

“It was carried over to today. So now that we are here, Honorable Minister, could you please educate the committee on the functions of African First Lady Peace Mission projects, taking into cognizance of funds allocated for the project in the past. Year 2020, N500 million, 2021, N225 million, 2022, N500 million. 2023, N150 million. Where is the office situated and the organogram,” she queried.

In response, the minister stated that the N150 million that was set aside in 2023 was ultimately transferred to Aisha Buhari, the former first lady, who later informed her that it was intended to be used for the purchase of a generator.

Regarding the First Lady's finances: “I wasn't present when the N500 million you mentioned happened. I noticed that in the Appropriations Act when I first arrived. I then went to see Tinubu, my First Lady. We talked about it. She said the specific sum of money was not intended for her. that since the money was allocated at that time, it was intended for the former First Lady.

“Later on, the former First Lady called me to say they intended to buy a generator and use it. She left the nation throughout this procedure. She required some time. After returning and giving me a call, she brought the guy who was supposed to arrange for the generator's delivery.

“I introduced that person to the procurement officer then, who is now retired so that they could work it out according to the rules and regulations of procurement. And they've been on it. Once in a while, I talk with the First Lady to find out what's going on. And that's the last I heard of that.”

The minister's inability to provide the address or identity of the contractors handling the African First Lady Peace Mission initiative astounded the committee members.

However, she retorted that, “Let me explain. This is First Lady's... My First Lady will tell you, focus on your work. And she focuses on her work. She just advises me. And when they came there, I am not a First Lady and I can't overstep my bounds.

“I went to tell her that there is some amount of money in the Appropriation Act for her office. I have no business with the First Lady's buildings because I have to only take directives when given.” When asked whether her ministry disburses public funds on the First

Lady's projects, Kennedy-Ohaneye said, "I won't answer what is not within my purview... I'm not an accountant to know how much cash they have in their bank statements. All I can see is the appropriation paper, the budget. And it was right there in last year's budget. It was there.

“I can't answer that, because I don't know who requested it was supposed to go to procurement. No First Lady called me. I called. I called. I never said a First Lady called, I called to say this is what I saw on the appropriation paper. That was what I said. 

“Let me not be misquoted. Let me not be misquoted. I never said it was meant for the First Lady. I said when I saw for First Lady's mission, that was the corporation's name. I don't know whether it has been used or not. We directed them, anything that will be done is supposed to go through procurement, the normal process.”

The ministry's procurement officer was also asked by the committee to explain to lawmakers how the funds were used, but the minister intervened before he could give a thorough answer, “I am not getting very comfortable anymore. Because I don't even understand this question. „

“The procurement do their job. I don't get myself involved. If anything has been going through on that, it's supposed to go through the normal process. I don't get myself involved.”

The spectacle continued when the committee chairman, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, announced that the session had been postponed indefinitely because of the minister's altercation with the parliamentarians. She said the committee would report to the House that the minister was unhelpful and showed no respect for the legislature, characterizing the minister's behavior as impolite toward the legislature.