Reps Summon Women Affairs Minister Over Alleged N1.5bn Fraud

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Women Affairs has launched investigation into the alleged diversion of N1.5billion meant for the payment of contractors by principal officers of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

Consequently, the committee has summoned the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye to appear before it on Tuesday and explain the whereabouts of the money already released.

This was just as the Director of Finance in the ministry, Mr. Aloy Ifeakandu told the committee at an investigative hearing that he had only comply with official directives from his superiors, adding that the records of the transactions were available.|

The committee’s sitting was sequel to a petition by contractors of the Ministry to the House of Representatives over nonpayment of executed contracts running into billions of Naira.

Speaking at the interactive session, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara alleged that the ministry initiated new contracts that were not captured in the 2023 budget and diverted N1.5billion funds for old contractors.

Hon. Ogbara added that the ministry, while owing contractors, went further to award a fresh contract in 15 states of the federation that were not similarly captured in the 2023 appropriation.

“Money for contractors have not been paid and money has been diverted, so how do you pay these contractors,” she queried.

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