.....As Gbaja, Tunji and Betta share leftover Funds from Covid-19 meant for 100,000 Homes of Vulnerable Nigerians
Another leaked Documents going viral during the weekend shows a letter signed by Chief of Staff to Mr. President, Femi Gbajabiamila giving approval to the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu to utilize the sum of N3 billion from the COVID-19 Palliative Fund for the controversial verification of National Social Register, NSR.
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.
Inside sources in the Ministry also revealed that the funds were air marked for over one hundred thousand homes of vulnerable Nigerians and poorest of the poor. A sum of thirty thousand Naira (N30,000) each was to be distributed to these homes to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recall that one of the leaked documents earlier last week, showed that the sum of N3.077 billion was approved for the 12 Companies engaged by the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, to conduct the verification of National Social Register.
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 N400 million contract for the company where he is currently a shareholder. However, his Wife is a Director in the same company.
In addition, one of the beneficiary companies registered as Decoration services, according to the investigation conducted at the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
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.
According to investigations, the purported approval for the utilisation of the N3.7billion has been carried out since the Suspended Minister took over the helms of affairs at the Ministry.
This worrisome development, according to Analysts, suggests 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.
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 into private accounts of Mrs. Oniyelu Bridget Mojisola with UBA Account No: 2003672151.
On the other hand, The Code of Conduct Bureau has invited the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, over the involvement of his company in an alleged N438m contract scam uncovered in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
The CCB has commenced an investigation into the alleged breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by the Minister.
A company, New Planet Projects, allegedly belonging to the Minister, benefitted from an alleged contract scam from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
A document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday revealed that the CCB invited the embattled minister to appear before it on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the CCB Headquarters, Federal Secretariat Complex, Abuja.
There has been outcry by Nigerians why the interior Minister is yet to be suspended while investigation is ongoing just as they did to other public holders.
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