I'm aware people became billionaires out of COVID-19 proceeds, federal lawmaker alleges

I'm aware people became billionaires out of COVID-19 proceeds, federal lawmaker alleges

- Allegations of corruption have been raised regarding how funds earmarked for COVID-19 in the country are being spent

- A federal lawmaker, Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, alleged that some people became billionaires from the misappropriation of the funds

- Nkem-Abonta's allegation comes amid House of Reps' decision to probe how the billions of naira budgeted for the COVID-19 response was spent

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Honourable Uzoma Nkem-Abonta, the lawmaker representing Ukwa East and Ukwa West federal constituency of Abia state, has raised allegations of corruption regarding COVID-19 funds.

Channels TV reports that the lawmaker claimed that funds earmarked to address the coronavirus pandemic are being misappropriated.

Legit.ng notes that Nkem-Abonta made the allegation amid the House of Representative's commencement of a probe into how N83.9 billion appropriated for the response to COVID-19 in the 2020 Appropriation Act was spent.

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Uzoma Nkem-Abonta: Federal lawmaker claims people became billionaires out of COVID-19 proceeds
A cross-section of Nigerian lawmakers at the House of Representatives. Photo credit: House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Source: Facebook

The lawmaker described the probe as a welcomed development, noting that it will be difficult for Nigerians to believe COVID-19 is real when funds meant to check its spread are being stolen.

He added that COVID-19 had become a massive business in Nigeria, saying billions of naira have been announced as funds spent on addressing the COVID-19 challenges, but no one can explain how the money was spent.

His words:

"I am aware that people became billionaires out of Covid proceeds, out of Covid transactions. You saw what happened during the palliatives scandal and scramble. So it’s a whole chain going on and I pray that control should be put to it."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health, said the federal government is expecting 15 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in February.

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He disclosed this during the media briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 in Abuja, on Monday, February 1.

Speaking on the source of the vaccine, he said the African Union allocated over 41 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria, and of the total, 15 million doses facilitated through COVAX will arrive in February

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Nurudeen Lawal avatar

Nurudeen Lawal (Head of Politics and Current Affairs Desk) Nurudeen Lawal is an AFP-certified journalist with a wealth of experience spanning over 8 years. He received his B/Arts degree in Literature-in-English from OAU. Lawal is the Head of the Politics/CA Desk at Legit.ng, where he applies his expertise to provide incisive coverage of events. He was named the Political Desk Head of the Year (Nigeria Media Nite-Out Award 2023). He is also a certified fact-checker (Dubawa fellowship, 2020). Contact him at lawal.nurudeen@corp.legit.ng or +2347057737768.

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