NationalMirror Reps investigate HIV/AIDS funds’ diversion by NGOs GEORGE OJI AND TORDUE SALEM June 28, 2013 •Senate probes $27m proceeds of foreign property sales The House of Representatives has started to probe possible pilfering of foreign donations meant to tackle Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV/AIDS, in the country. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, declared the probe yesterday after the opening of an investigative hearing on the need to check the activities of governmental and non-governmental organisations working in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Nigeria. He said: “The investigation should not be seen as an attempt to restrict or control the activities on NGOs, rather, it should be viewed as a conscious effort to infuse transparency and accountability into the activities of government agencies and NGOs in order to regain the confidence of donor organisations. “The menace of HIV/ AIDS affects all Nigerians, as such all efforts must be made to work collectively to tackle the disease. “This investigative hearing is a first step toward making our people more informed on how resources are applied to care for those infected or affected by the disease, and how to also make things better so that everyone can have access to quality HIV care and treatment in our nation regardless of their socio-economic status. That is the essence of this committee and that is our responsibility to our people.” In a related development, the Senate yesterday began investigation to unravel the whereabouts of $27 million allegedly realised from the sale of four prime properties belonging to the Nigerian Government in Washington DC by embassy officials. The properties were located in Washington DC and Maryland and alleged to have been sold between 2004 and 2007. The probe, which is being conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, is consequent upon a petition to the Senate President, David Mark, by a group known as Transform Nigeria Movement, TNM. The petition was signed by one Daniel Elombah. Those who appeared before the Senate Probe Committee yesterday to give evidence included the former ambassador to the United States of America, Prof. George Obiozor (May 2004 – July 2007), Mrs. Joy Ogwu also a former ambassador to the US, she was also a former Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) and the current ambassador to the US, Amb. Ade Adefuye. Also in attendance was the petitioner, Elombah. Shortly after the probe commenced, journalists were asked to leave the meeting, with the Senator Mathew Nwagwu-led probe committee. In the three-page petition, the petitioner alleged that, “available records show that between 2004 and 2007, the embassy of Nigeria sold four prime properties of the Nigerian Government located in Washington DC and Maryland. It also commenced the sale of the fifth property located in San Francisco, California. “For the sale of those properties, the Government of Nigeria retained the services of ECULAW law firm.
Posted on: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:32:28 +0000
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