Alleged N510m Procurement Fraud: Minister Denies Invite From Anti-corruption Agency, House Committee

The Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye has denied the claim of being invited by any anti-corruption Agency and the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development over an alleged N510 million procurement fraud.

The Minister who spoke during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday, questioned the essence of her being investigated when she has not handled any constituency project ever since she assumed office, thus, the issues levelled against her must have happened before she became Minister.

Ohanenye who expressed shock about being petitioned and invited by the Committee, warmed that she will not tolerate a woman bringing down another woman when they are supposed to focus their energy on issues affecting the development of women and girls in the country.

Her words, “It was shocking to me because since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came on board we have decide to change the narrative based on the President’s visions and we have decided that the issue of women not supporting women must come to an end. And we moved on again to see how we can change the narrative towards women’s lives of which they are the poorest.

“Only 10% of women own properties in the country and they are the most vulnerable. This is what I have been concentrating, working towards the help of Mr. President.

“It really shocked me that a member of the House who is actually in charge of Women could come out and say all that she said on air. I want to look at it that she actually made a mistake because I will not tolerate a woman bringing down another woman anymore.”

Honourable Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman,

House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, had said that the Minister is being investigated by the Public Procurement Committee and her Committee had also sent out an invitation on which she was supposed to make appearance before Thursday 6th June, but was postponed to Monday 10th June.

She further said, “There are many petitions against her but because we have not heard her side of the story, and we have not done the investigation. We want to wait until we get to the bottom of this issue before I’m able to talk about it in public. And I’m 100% optimistic that if she is found wanting, we will let Nigerians know.

“The last time we were at the Ministry, we had issues concerning the record and misappropriation of funds and how they used different analogue and names for same purpose.”

The Minister however, in her response said, “I have nothing to explain because if they were actually investigating anything, everybody is termed not guilty until you are found guilty. Why can they be investigating me? I have not done anything because I have not been in charge of any constituency projects since I came in.

“They never invited me to respond to questions, they actually went to the Account Department to find out whether they have been paid but they discovered there were discrepancies in the report because for contractors they said were owed N50 million, N80 million was written as payment, and the House Committee decided to involve the Accountant General to find out where the loophole is coming from.

“It wasn’t on me. It was on the issue of unravelling the things concerning projects of which many were not yet done. So, she doesn’t have any reason to come on air to say what she said. I will not fight my fellow woman, I will make sure she realizes that the narrative have changed and she has to join the wagon that women should focus on uplifting themselves.”

Ohanenye therefore, clarified that she will not aid anyone to steal and be jailed, instead, she will concentrate on her job without giving room to distraction.