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Reps, Women Affairs Minister Trade Words Over N1.5bn Alleged Diversion Of Funds

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

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…as minister say First Lady told her ‘focus on your work’

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Commitee on Women Affairs and Social Development has been on an intense trade of words with the Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy over an alleged diversion of N1.5 billion by officials of the ministry.

The fracas occured during an investigative hearing by the Commitee, when the Minister was asked to give account of how monies meant for contractors paid by the Office of the Accountant General was expended by the ministry.

In response, the Minister said about 30 percent of the total sum meant for contractors where paid to her ministry but she can not give account of how it was spent, especially as she had been advised by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to mind her business.

But the committee members questioned the rationale behind her claim of not been aware of money that was paid to her ministry, especially as the money was in the ministry’s coffers when she resumed Office in 2023.

The Minister however said the total sum was not released which was the reason contractors were been owed.

She said: “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”.

Deputy Chairman of the Commitee, Rep. Marie Ebikake, however questioned the minister on the African First Lady Peace Mission project of about 500 million naira, asking the minster to tell the Commitee how the money was utilized, where the project was located and those involved.

“Honorable Minister and Permanent Secretary with Director Finance and Admin, last time when you 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, 500 million,2021, 225 million.2022, 500 million. 2023, 150 million.Where is the office situated and the organogram?”, she asked.

The Minister however explained that the N150 million that was appropriated in 2023 was eventually used for purchase of generator, which was what the former First Lady, Aisha Buhari told her it was meant for.

“About the First Lady’s funds. The 500 million you were talking about, I wasn’t there when it happened. When I came in, I saw it on the appropriation act. And I went to my First Lady. We discussed. She said that particular money was not meant for her.

“That it was meant for the former First Lady because that was when that money was allocated. And the former First Lady later called me and said they wanted to use it and buy generator. And in the process, she was out of the country.

“It took her a while. She came back, called me, and she brought the person that was going to come and organize how they would get the generator. And 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”, Kennedy stated.

At this point members of the committee were surprise that the Minister could not identify the contractors or address of the Contractors who executed the African First Lady Peace Mission project.

In her response the Minister said: “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. All I went to tell her that there is some amount of money on the appropriation act. for her office and I went there to tell her. I have no business much to do with First Lady’s buildings. Because I have to only take directives when given.

Reacting, another member of the Committee told the Minister, “Well, you disburse public funds on First Lady’s issues. Is it not so? The office space, was it not paid with public funds of the Nigerian people? Let the director that is in charge speak, ma’am. Please.

“I won’t answer what is not within my purview, the Minister responded.

The members of the Commitee at this point insisted to know if it was the First Lady Oluremi Tinubu that directed the Minister to hand over the money to the former First Lady Aisha Buhari.

The Chairman of the Commitee, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara in her question said , “when you resumed, you met the money in the account of your ministry. Because you said this money is for the former First Lady, and are you saying it was the former First Lady that requested that the money is going to be used for the generator or is it the current First Lady?

Responding the Minister said “Like I said, I’m not the accountant.I don’t usually know what you have.

The Minister further insisted to explain herself “No, but I’m trying to explain myself, Like I said, 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 the budget of last year. It was there.

My question is, was the money budgeted for the last First Lady? and I’ll ask you, is it the former First Lady that contacted you that the money is going to be used for the generator or not? The chairman asked the minister

In her response, the Minister said “No, it was budgeted by the ministry.

“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 name of the corporation. 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.

At this point, the Chairman of the Committee asked the procurement officer to explain to the Commitee how the money was spent.

According to him, “The project was awarded. But I don’t know anything about it, it is ongoing.

The chairman of the Committee asked the procurement officer, if the Minister was aware of the project.

While he was about to respond, the Minister interjected by saying “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. Procurement officer.

The Commitee Chairman at this point said due to the confrontation from the Minister to the Commitee, the meeting was adjourned sine die .

“It seems the honourable Minister does want to calm down, she does nit want us to go to the root of this matter. She is challenging the committee, she’s been rude to even Honourable Members and this is very insulting and highly unacceptable. You are interrupting Honourable Members when they are speaking. You are still here, I told you, you will have your ground to speak.

“In view of this, Honourable Members I cannot be here and allow the Honourable Minister to insult any member of this committee. We are going to adjourn sine die, and I hope that when we call the Honourable Minister again and thus team to come together, I hope you will be able to behave yourself.

“We are going to write a report to the leadership of the House that the Honourable Minister is not allowing us to do our jobs. She is interrupting, she’s not answering the questions the way she ought to and the records that we have is what we are sneaking to. We have not manufactured any record here, everything we have, is got from your ministry.

“We are only asking you to account for the money that was paid to you. We are only concerned about these poor Nigerians that their money was not paid”, Rep. Ogbara stated.

News

Stand Firm and Keep Fighting, Bello, Gbajabiamila Rally Abejide

Published

2 hours ago

April 21, 2026

Gloria Ikibah

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…leaders urge resilience as pressure mounts within ADC ranks

By Gloria Ikibah

Former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello and Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, have thrown their weight behind Rep. Leke Abejide, urging him to remain steadfast amid ongoing political tensions within his party the African Democratic Congress.

The messages of support were delivered during a dinner in Abuja held to celebrate the 50th birthday of his wife, Esther Abejide, where both leaders praised his resilience and commitment to democratic ideals.

They encouraged the Yagba Federal Constituency representative to stay the course and continue his efforts to stabilise and strengthen the African Democratic Congress, despite mounting internal challenges.

Bello described Abejide as a determined political figure who remains focused on his goals, while Gbajabiamila urged him to remain within the party and push for what he believes is right.

Their intervention comes at a time of heightened uncertainty within the ADC, with calls for unity and perseverance growing louder among party stakeholders.

Bello said, “Honourable Leke Abejide sought to be a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of APC then, and there are some mathematical miscalculations. But that never stopped him. He came second time and he is performing and touching lives across the board.

“Honourable Leke Abejide is acting as if he was the governor. At a point I was like, do you want to overthrow me? Honourable Leke Abigide sought to be the governor of Kogi State. He contested keenly with my amiable and wonderful successor. I know how many times our brother, the chief of staff, the president, intervened, called me, and several meetings were held. And I maintained one thing. I said, look, this is my brother. I will never deceive him. The politics of Kogi State, nobody knows better than I do at this stage. Let him just try his luck and learn and wait for an appropriate time.

“Honourable Leke Abejide did not lose. He only came to learn the act of politicking especially for governorship at that level in Kogi State. Honourable Leke Abejide did not hesitate to support and give all of his backings to my governor immediately after the election. He was under serious pressure to go to court. He was the first person who said he was not going to challenge it. Rather, he collapsed his structures and supported.

“Honourable Leke Abejide at National Assembly level, despite he belonged to ADC, he was supporting our president actively, both physically and covertly. Honourable Leke Abejide, we thank you for all your performance. Your Excellency, thank you for your guidance. The Chief of Staff, the President. Tell Mr. President that we appreciate you. And that myself and my governor, we have conferred on each other. And that we are calling on Chief Leke Abejide and telling all of the Yagba Federal Constituency’s persons that are here, please take this message home, that we want Leke back in APC”.

Similarly, the Chief of Staff to the President and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila commended Rep. Abejide for his doggedness which he said kept him on track in his democratic journey and winning elections on a platform which he kept alive and running for long.

He said, “I keep saying people to people when I talk about him, that for a man to contest an election in a face-to-face state where elections are fierce, and to contest under a platform of a relatively unknown party, ADC, and to win back-to-back-to-back, it tells you who that man is. Not when he won the first time, he came on a sole ADC carry to the house. Four years later, he went back to Kogi. He brought somebody else from the ADC.

“Honorable Abejide, I know you to be a committed party man. I know you to be a fighter. I know you to be someone who does not like to be cheated. So please, my charge to you is to stay in that same ADC. Fight. Fight them. Scare them. Hold on to your party, ADC. Do not allow them. We like what you are doing. Continue.

“Don’t let the former governor say that you should come and join the APC. No, no, no, no, no, no. Stay in the ADC. Win your election in the ADC as you will. Bring Gombe. We will support him. Bring him. Do the right thing. You are a fighter. Do the right thing. Nobody can come and take your party away from you. A party that you’ve been to for years with your sweat and your money and everything. No. Continue. Good luck in court”.

News

Forum of legislators calls on Judiciary to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy

Published

6 hours ago

April 21, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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The African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Legislators Serving and Former Forum has tasked all stakeholders especially the Judiciary on projection of Nigeria’s democracy.

The forum gave the charge on Tuesday at a news conference in Abuja while reacting to comments allegedly made by some top politicians and public officials that do not advance Nigeria’s democratic processes.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, Ms Nnenna Ukeje, a member of the 8th House of Representatives said that as patriots, the forum is committed to national interest and have defended democracy on many fora.

According to her, their intervention stands for the defence, stability, protection of democracy and preservation of our beloved country.

“We must reiterate that there is a clear difference between the tyranny of the majority and true democracy; between illiberal civil rule and a system grounded in democratic contestation; between constitutional governance and authoritarian subjugation.

“Nigeria must remain firmly on the side of democracy, resisting overreach by any arm of government is not subversion; it is a constitutionally given right and duty.

“To the judiciary, we reiterate: this is a defining moment; the tipping point, the nation’s eleventh for survival.

“Your independence must remain sacrosanct. Your integrity must be unquestionable and your patriotism unapologetic. Your decision will determine the drift,” she said.

Ukeje said that Nigeria’s democracy must not be weakened by the very forces that once fought to build it saying that the preservation of democratic space is not a favour to the opposition but a duty owed to the nation.

The former lawmaker said that Nigerians must be very vigilant as democracy does not defend itself but survives only when citizens, institutions, and leaders commit to its protection.

“In conclusion, Nigeria must remain a nation governed by law, not expediency; by robust institutions, not strong individuals; and by the will of the people, not predetermined outcomes.

“Let the judiciary act without interference. Let opposition thrive without intimidation. Let citizens participate without fear.

“Nigeria’s democracy belongs to its people, and it must be protected and defended by all.
We remain committed to defending it through all lawful means; through the courts, through civic engagement, and at the ballot box,” she said. (NAN)
——-

News

Tinubu approves minor cabinet reshuffle, sacks Edun, Dangiwa

Published

8 hours ago

April 21, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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…..Oyedele elevated to Finance Minister

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle in the membership of the Federal Executive Council.

According to a memo signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, two cabinet members, Mr. Wale Edun and Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa are to leave the cabinet while their replacements have been named.

Edun, until the latest development, was the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy.

He has been directed to hand over to Mr. Taiwo Oyedele who is now to take over as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy. Oyedele was formerly a Minister of State in the ministry.

Also Mr. Muttaqha Rabe Darma (PhD .) has been named as the ministerial nominee and minister designate for the Housing and Urban Development Ministry.

The memo also directed Dangiwa to hand over to the Minister of State in the ministry.

The memo stated that “all handing over and taking over processes should be completed on or before close of business on Thursday 23rd April, 2026.”

Explaining the President’s decision, Akume said: “These changes are aimed at strengthening cohesion, synergy in governance as well as achieving more impactful delivery on the economy to Nigerians, through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

He said the President, in approving the cabinet reshuffle, has fully exercised his powers as conferred on him by Sections 147 and 148 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended).

The President thanked the outgoing ministers for their services to the nation while wishing them the best in all their future endeavours.

The President, Akume noted, equally assured all cabinet members that “the process of reinvigoration shall be continuous.”