x

Fashola lashes out over report alleging payment of ₦4.6bn into staffers’ accounts


By Amadin Idahosa

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has expressed his dissatisfaction following PremiumTimes report regarding the illegal payment of N4.6 billion to officials under his watch.

In a release he titled “Stealing Public Trust: PremiumTimes Low Premium Reporting,” the Minister said, “If anything has been stolen, it is the Trust of the public,” by the aforementioned news medium.

His outburst emanated from another publication of premiumtimes on November 18 which cited requests from Nigerians to probe into the illegal payment of ₦4.6 billion into the personal accounts of some officials of the former ministry of power, works and housing,

Fashola, whose reply dated Wednesday, November 18, got to newsmen on Sunday 23, stated that, “If Premium Times investigated, it would have found and reported that Ministers do not manage accounts and finances of Ministries.

“A little investigation would have shown that Directors of Finance and Accounts, DFAs, are those who do this job and they are staff of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and seconded to the Ministries as part of financial controls.”

Concluding, Fashola declared that in all, no money was stolen or is missing, adding that there’s no ‘Smoking Gun’ to criminalize him.

Not holding back words, the Minister further said what PremiumTimes did “Is not investigative Journalism. It is Irresponsible Journalism.”

But according premiumtimes, their findings revealed that payments were made to 21 staff members of the ministry within four months, with two-thirds of the amount going to the duo of Ogueri Ugochukwu Pascal and Olasehinde Micah.

Premiumtimes reported that Pascal was paid ₦1.6 billion while the Micah got ₦1.4 billion.

An excerpt from Fashola’s release, earlier, posited that no investigation was undertaken in respect of the alleged fraud as the report was from “Open Portal.”

“If it was from the Open Portal then there was nothing to hide.” He said.

Via the payment platform called Integrated Payment Platform and Information System, IPPIS, Fashola explained the standard procedure of obtaining and dispensing public funds.

Meanwhile the position of premiumtimes remains that in the last lap of 2019, the ministry of power and the ministry of works and housing, both gave no information about the two men, (Pascal and Micah) and online searches for their names yielded little luck.

Premiumtimes reported that the ministry of power said they are not its staff, while Works and housing ministry declined to comment.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalist As...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

Retired Police Officers Set for Nationwide Protest Over Pension Scheme

By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna The Kaduna State chapter of the...

NUJ Info Chapel Hosts Workshop, Hails Commissioner, Council Leadership

By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information,...

Tinubu Appoints Ismael Ahmed as Executive Chairman of Presidential CNG Initiative

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Barrister Ismael Ahmed...

Alleged ₦80.2bn Fraud: EFCC Kicks as Yahaya Bello Seeks Medical Travel Abroad

By Gabriel Udeh The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,...

Why we’re raising concerns over alleged contract scam at NNPCL – Coalition

President Bola Tinubu has been asked to terminate the...

Tinubu Assures Abuja Residents, No More ” One Chance” Attacks

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju President Bola Tinubu has assured Abuja residents...

INEC Sets August 16 for Bye-Elections in 12 States, Resumes Voter Registration

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced August...

Tinubu Hosts Fubara, Wike, Rivers Lawmakers in Fresh Push for Peace

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday convened a closed-door meeting...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img