How Gbajabiamila Allegedly Conveyed Approval of N3bn COVID-19 fund To Betta Edu- Report
...N438m obtained by cronies' firm meant for 14,600 vulnerable, poor families.
Facts emerged on Monday that the N3 billion approved for controversial verification of National Social Register, NSR, by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu was meant to empower 100,000 vulnerable families across the country.
Insider source who confirmed this during a private chat with this Newspaper, also alleged that the N3 billion was fraudulently withdrawn from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund left in the coffer of National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA, by the last administration.
While noting that the fraudulent transaction was carried out before the appointment of the NSIPA's National Coordinator/CEO, Hajia Halima Shehu, the Official who was privy to the modus operandi of the public service, alleged that several illicit transactions were carried out by the embattled Minister who was used as Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to perpetuate the illegal siphoning of public fund through the backdoor.
In confirmation of his narration, this Newspaper got a mail which contained a leaked document which showed how Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Chief of Staff to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, conveyed approval for the utilisation of the sum of N3 billion for the "kangaroo" verification exercise.
Recall that some of the companies who were listed as beneficiaries of the N3 billion were not registered with Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC nor their owners.
The leaked letter with Ref. No: SH/COS/45/A/220 dated: 18th September, 2023, was signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
Sources close to the Presidency says Gbajabiamila's letter raises suspicion as it could have been done without the knowledge of the President.
However, further analysis of the leaked document shows that the purported approval letter conveyed by the Chief of Staff to the President, did not contain any details of the Reference Number of the letter of request initiated by the suspended Minister.
One of the companies listed in the leaked documents, was linked to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who denied allegations of influencing the over N438 million contract for the company where he is currently a shareholder, while his Wife is as an active Director as at the time the "inglorious transaction" was exposed.
The amount, is disbursed as earlier planned by the NSIPA was meant for 14,600 vulnerable and poor Families across the country, at N30,000 each.
In addition, one of the beneficiary companies registered as Interior Decoration services, according to the investigation conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
This was similar to a transaction carried out by one Cleaning Service company, which was invited by the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to lift crude after losing out from securing contract for cleaning services. This was revealed during the investigative hearing conducted during the 8th House of Representatives.
The recent leaked document, according to Analysts, suggest that a series of transactions might have been carried out in the Agency through the same illegal channel giving nod to the confirmation of a report making the rounds that a whopping sum of N14.8 billion have allegedly been withdrawn by the suspended Minister from the NSIPA's coffers. The amount would been distributed to the 493,333 poor and vulnerable Families at N30,000 each.
You would recall that the suspended Minister reportedly threatened to "fight back" and reveal all those involved following the Suspension meted on her after the public outcry over the controversial payment of N585,189,500 allegedly meant for 2023 Grant for Vulnerable Groups, GVG, in Akwa Ibom State, Cross River State, Lagos State and Ogun State, respectively, but fraudulently paid into private accounts of one Mrs. Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola with UBA Account No: 2003672151.
Breakdown of the another illicit transaction carried out to the tune of N219,429,750.00 for 2023 Grant for the Vulnerable Groups in Akwa Ibom State was meant for 7,314 vulnerable and poor Families in the State.
The N73,828,750.00 illegal transaction for 2023 Grant for the Vulnerable Groups in Cross River State was meant for 2,461 poor and vulnerable Families in the State.
Similarly, the N219,429,750.00 illegal transaction for 2023 Grant for the Vulnerable Groups in Lagos State was meant for 7,314 poor and vulnerable Families in the State.
Also, the N72,468,750.00 illicit transaction for 2023 Grant for the Vulnerable Groups in Ogun State was meant for 2,416 poor and vulnerable Families in the State.
This is coming on the heels of public outcry and call for prosecution of all the political appointees and public office holders linked with the misappropriated funds.
Several Civil Society Organizations, CSOs, have also called for inclusion of CSOs and other stakeholders in the Special Presidential Panel constituted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in order to avoid complicity and ensure transparency, equity and justice.
