The Minister of Women Affairs in Nigeria, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has challenged the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to present any evidence of corruption against her in court.
In a statement released by her aide, Musa Abdulrahaman, on Thursday, July 11, 2024 in Abuja, the minister asserted that all payments for contracts and project approvals in her ministry followed established civil service regulations.
The House committee, chaired by Kafilat Ogbara, had summoned the minister over alleged corruption, particularly regarding the diversion of N1.5 billion earmarked for contractor payments. Contractors had petitioned the committee, alleging non-payment for services rendered to the ministry.
During a hearing on Tuesday, the committee and the minister engaged in a heated debate on the issue. In response, Kennedy-Ohanenye presented comprehensive documentation and explanations to address the allegations of misappropriated funds.
The statement emphasized that all program and project payments were meticulously authorized, involving the Director of Finance and Accounts and requiring final approval from the Permanent Secretary, the ministry’s accounting officer. The minister provided supporting documents to substantiate the accuracy of all financial transactions.
Kennedy-Ohanenye has filed a lawsuit (Suit No. E 500/2024) against Hon. Kafilat Ogbara for libel and defamation, choosing to abstain from further comments on the matter. She encouraged the committee or anyone with evidence of alleged misappropriation to present it in court.
Abdulrahaman quoted the minister as saying that no funds have been misappropriated in the ministry. “As long as I am the Minister of Women Affairs, I will continue to use the resources judiciously for the benefit of Nigerian women and children. There will be no room for financial recklessness or misappropriation of resources,” Kennedy-Ohanenye stated.
