Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, has urged the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development to substantiate any accusations of corruption against her through legal means.
This call was made in a statement issued by Musa Abdulrahaman, an aide to the minister, in Abuja on Thursday.
Kennedy-Ohanenye affirmed that all financial transactions, including contract payments and project approvals within the Ministry, strictly adhere to established civil service regulations.
The statement came in response to summons from the committee, chaired by Kafilat Ogbara, investigating allegations of diverting N1.5 billion meant for contractor payments.
During the committee hearing, there was reportedly a heated exchange between committee members and the minister regarding the allegations.
Kennedy-Ohanenye presented comprehensive documentation and explanations to rebut claims of financial misconduct.
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“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs emphasizes that all payments for programs and projects undergo meticulous authorization procedures, overseen by the Director of Finance and Accounts and finally approved by the Permanent Secretary, who acts as the Ministry’s accounting officer,” the statement clarified.
Kennedy-Ohanenye also submitted supporting documents to verify the accuracy of all financial transactions.
The statement noted that the minister has initiated a lawsuit (Suit No. E 500/2024) against Hon. Kafilat Ogbara for alleged libel and defamation and, therefore, will refrain from commenting further on the issue.
“In adherence to due process, the Minister invites the Committee or any party with evidence of alleged misappropriation to present such evidence in a court of law,” the statement concluded.
Abdulrahaman quoted Kennedy-Ohanenye reaffirming her commitment to transparently utilizing Ministry resources for the benefit of Nigerian women and children. She pledged zero tolerance for financial impropriety and assured that every training initiative would result in sustainable empowerment efforts.
