Reps summon Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy over N1.5 billion scandal

In barely one year after sworn into office as Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye has been summoned by the House of Representatives to explain the N1.5 billion allegedly diverted or disappeared that has cast a dent on the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The development was sequel to petition by the contractors working for agency, claiming the N1.5 billion was meant for settlement of contracts executed, but which the Minister of Women Affairs connive with the management staff of Women Affairs Ministry and embezzled the fund.

The House of Reps Committee on Women Affairs initiated probe of the fund on Friday 5th July, and discovered the massive looting in women in which the N1.5 billion was conspicuously diverted to serve the interest of the Minister and some top ministry officials even when it was budgeted for.

Chairman of the Committee, Kafilat Ogbara, said instead of paying contractors who executed projects earlier for the Ministry, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye went ahead to initiate fresh contracts that were not captured in the 2023 budget and made some payments.

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.

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, translated 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 disclosed that N1.5 billion was released to the ministry.