Former Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, is being questioned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over allegations of misusing public funds amounting to N138,413,253.89.
The funds were part of the 2023 budget for the ministry and were meant for projects, including the P-BAT Cares for Women Initiative.
Ohanenye arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja on Thursday at 11:00 AM, where investigators have been interrogating her about the suspected financial irregularities.
Sources said the probe is focused on alleged breaches in how the ministry’s budget was handled, with evidence suggesting funds were redirected for personal use instead of their intended purposes.
Investigators said procurement processes were ignored, and public funds were diverted.
Apart from the suspected misappropriation, she is also being questioned about other possible fraudulent dealings linked to her tenure.
“The investigations reveal that funds intended for the P-BAT Cares for Women Initiative were misappropriated for her personal enrichment.
“The former Minister is also being probed for her alleged involvement in other fraudulent activities, which include violations of procurement laws and the unauthorised use of public funds”, the source said.
As of the time of this report, questioning was still ongoing.
The EFCC is expected to decide on the next steps based on findings from the investigation.
News About Nigeria recalls that President Bola Tinubu appointed Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye as the Minister of Women Affairs on August 21, 2023.
However, during a major cabinet reshuffle on October 23, 2024, she was relieved of her duties.
Subsequently, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim was appointed as the new Minister of Women Affairs.
