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BREAKING: Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye dragged to Court over alleged N2 billion fraud
Concerned Civil Society Organisations, a group that has bias in fight against corruption has approached Enugu State High Court, asking it to compel Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye to account for $100M World Bank Intervention Funds for Nigerian Women.
This is even as the Minister of Women was also accused of siphoning N2 billion meant for the empowerment of the women in the country.
In the Court documents made available to CAPITAL POST on Thursday, President Bola Tinubu was also joined in the lawsuit as the group is seeking an order of the court compelling the minister to account for the whooping N2billion.
The plaintiffs in the case- Ambassador Onyinye Joy Mamah, suing for herself and on behalf of Heroine Women Foundation and Other Affected Nigerian Women and Amaka-Ajuzie Ogbu, for herself and on behalf of Net Bridge Empowerment Foundation, are asking Ohanenye to also account for $100M intervention funds granted to the ministry by the World Bank in aid of distressed Nigerian women.
The petitioners on behalf of themselves and Nigerian women expressed disappointment at the minister for siphoning intervention funds meant for the emancipation of the Nigerian women.
The petitioners said various actions of the Women Affairs ministry by Ohanenye raised serious questions about the management of funds meant for vulnerable Nigerian women and and children.
Court Document
They described the minister’s application of the various intervention funds available to the ministry as not only flawed but exploitative.
They demanded that Ohanenye provide a full and transparent account of how N2billion was utilised.
Court Document
Similarly, they requested the anti-graft agency to investigate and hold Ohanenye accountable for the misuse of public funds under her custody.
The petitioners said, “Over the years, the minister has diverted an estimated N2billion from various critical projects within her ministry under the guise of empowerment into questionable initiatives. The minister allegedly appoints the contractors for these initiatives, raising further concerns about transparency and accountability.”
“We highlight the following examples of these so called empowerment projects: Purchase of Keke tricycles: The minister has proudly touted the purchase of just seven tricycles for women, from she now demands daily payments.”
Court Document
“Purchase of Iron dubbed Steaming Machines and scissors dubbed cutting machines at exorbitant rates of N680,000 per iron and N160,000 naira per scissors.”
“Faceless Benefiaries: A significant number of beneficiaries of these initiatives remain unidentified, leading us to question whether these individuals even exist or if the funds have been misappropriated.”
“Furthermore, we are in possession of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the minister with organizers of an event which she recently disrupted claiming ignorance of the event.”
“The organisers alleged that the minister reneged on the alleged revenue sharing formula few days to the event after they have had committed substantial funds to the event. They were then threatened with disruption unless they complied with her new terms. This type of extortionate behavior is unacceptable and undermines the credibility of the ministry.”
“We demand that the Minister of Women Affairs provide a full and transparent account of how the N2billion was utilised. It’s imperative that the funds allocated for the empowerment of women are used for their purpose and not as a tool for personal enrichment.”
“We call on relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the minister’s activities and hold her accountable for any misuse of public funds. The time has come to put an end to the exploitation of women and children under the guise of empowerment.”
Meanwhile, in the affidavit sworn to by Mamah and Ogbu, at Enugu High Court, they deposed that, “Not long ago during the regime of former President Muhammadu Buhari, a loan facility amounting to N100billion had been made available to this country by World Bank for use to better the lives of women.”
“The fund was wholly dissipated and none had gotten to the end users, i.e. the impoverished women of Nigeria, all that they heard was that the whole of N100M had been spent on consultancies, seminars and such other inanities.”
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
As part of the activities to celebrate the golden anniversary of the University of Calabar, the wife of the President of the Senate, Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio was on Saturday, March 22, 2025 conferred with an honorary doctorate degree in Education Management.
The ceremony held at the main campus of the institution in Calabar, Cross River State also saw the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike awarded the honorary doctorate degree in Law.
Other awardees included Major General Moses Bisong Obi (rtd) (Doctor of Peace and Conflict Studies) and Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Akomaye Obi (Doctor of Law).
In her acceptance speech after the conferment by the 15th Emir of Kano and Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the wife of the Senate President, Mrs Akpabio thanked the Governing Council and Management of the University for finding her worthy of the honour.
A statement by the Special Assistant on Media/communication to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong quoted Mrs Akpabio as saying “I am happy to be honoured with this award from the prestigious University of Calabar that I have heard so much about from my dear husband, an alumnus of this great institution.
“I was wondering when I will join him as a great Malabress and that day has come and I am grateful to the University for this honour,” she said.
Mrs Akpabio promised to work with other awardees especially the Minister of the FCT to provide infrastructural assistance to the university.
In a citation the University extolled Mrs Akpabio for her philanthropic and humanitarian efforts towards uplifting the lives of women and the vulnerable of the society through her non governmental organisation, the Family Life Enhancement Initiative.
She was also recognized as a Champion of women’s rights and as one who used her position as the First Lady of Akwa Ibom State to fight for the inclusion of more women in governance.
On his part, Chief Wike said he was honoured to be among the recipients of award. He extolled the Visitor of the University, President Bola Tinubu for working tirelessly to promote tertiary education in the country.
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has expressed disappointment over the declaration of State of emergency in Rivers State, saying it discredits Nigeria’s image.
The declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara packing for six months, while the elected members of the State House of Assembly have also been suspended.
Jonathan stated this while speaking as the Chairman at the Haske Satumari Foundation Colloquium in Abuja on Saturday.
He said elected officials have been removed from office in a very disappointing manner.
Contrary to Jonathan’s view however, the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, expressed support for Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers.
The party said no responsible government will allow a situation to deteriorate before taking decisive action in the best interest of its citizens.
NNPP National Chairman, Dr. Agbo Major, told newsmen: “President Tinubu is the Chief Security Officer of Nigeria.
“The information available to him as president from intelligence sources may not be in the public purview.
“The government in Rivers was suspended and no one can actually say what would have happened by now, judging from the deepening crisis.
“The crisis was further compounded by some leaders who, instead of offering advice or promoting peace during the turmoil, allowed it to escalate before later stepping in to criticize.”
But for President Jonathan, “These actions by key actors in the executive and legislative arms of government paint the country in a negative light.”
He said it was not the norm for former presidents to comment on issues, so as not to heat up the polity.
However, Jonathan said, his comment became necessary after calls from many Nigerians, urging him to speak on the events in Rivers State.
He added that the image of the country and how much investments a country attracts is dependent on the actions of the executive, legislature and judiciary of that country.
Goodluck Jonathan faulted the situation where an individual can dictate to the judiciary, noting that it makes it difficult for anyone to have faith in the judiciary.
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