The last has not been heard about the One billion
naira earmarked to raise to substantial level the corporate building of a Grade
One Federal Ministry responsible for Investments and Trade.
The dilapidated foundation of the building
situated opposite the Federal Ministry of Finance, adjacent to the Distant
Learning edifice next to the Foreign Affairs Complex before the Federal
Secretariat has been overtaken by weeds, rodents and dangerous snakes.
When the sum of One billion naira was released for
the building to be taken to the next level, FCDA officials had argued
vehemently that the money was supposed to be in their custody since the
construction of the building falls under their purview as did other high
profile ones for the Executive, Judiciary and Legislature.
At the height of the tussle, ex-Minister of
Finance, Chief (Mrs.) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala had thrown her weight behind their
request, but despite her insistence the former Trade and Investment Minister
who belonged to the inner circle of ex-President Jonathan stood his grounds and
refused to budge.
Several memos sighted by Abuja Morning Star which were
written to appeal to his senses to allow FCDA construct the building fell on
deaf ears.
The Harvard trained former Minister from Lagos
State on whose shoulders the nation relied on heavily then went ahead to
embezzle the entire One billion without adding a single block to the
edifice! The shame of it today is that
the building is derelict and constituting an eyesore to motorists which ought
not to be. It is part of this ugly trend
that foreign media described Mr. Jonathan’s Government as inept and corrupt!
When Abuja Morning Star visited the Ministry of
Trade and Investment where the deed was committed, the entire complex was in
deep shock. Said an official at the
Auditor’s office, “we are really surprised the Lagos born ex-Minister could
descend so low to steal Government funds”.
Another official at the Business Registration office was more emphatic:
“we never knew that criminals were parading themselves as our Minister and this
is too bad for us as a nation”.
When Abuja Morning Star visited the place it was a
sorry sight. The Government official had
merely used the premises as a decoy to pull out tax payers money from the
treasury. It remains to be seen whether
this official would be allowed to go with his loot.
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