Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Richard Mofe Damijo
(popularly called RMD) and the acting General Manager of the state’s
Tourism Board, Philo Nkem Ajufo, have allegedly embezzled N50 million
belonging to the ministry.
Several sources in Delta State,
including two employees of the Culture Ministry, told source that a
former commissioner in the Ministry had requested N50 million to
organize the “Delta State Expo 2007.” However, the state government was
unable to release the funds that particular year to sponsor the yearly
event.
By some bizarre twist, the funds were finally released to
the ministry’s tourism account in May, 2012. “As soon as the money
arrived, the commissioner said that the ministry could no longer hold
the event since six years had elapsed,” said a source within the
ministry. “The Honorable Commissioners also argued that Deltans would
have forgotten about the event – and therefore the money should not be
used for the purpose it was released.”
However, our reporter
obtained documents from the Delta State Ministry of Finance stipulating
that the N50 million must be spent on the event for which the Culture
Ministry applied for it. The warrant was signed by one P.O. Evuojapha on
behalf of the Commissioner of Finance. The warrant indicated that N35
million of the funds was to go to the Tourism Board.
Our sources
disclosed that Mr. Damijo, a former popular Nollywood actor turned
politician, connived to issue a check of N35 million in the name of Ms.
Ajufo who reportedly deposited the sum into her First Bank private
account number 3006131619. “Mrs. Ajufo and RMD then shared the money,”
one of our sources asserted.
Another government source told source , “It is very obvious that the manner the check was
issued in the name of the board GM instead of in the name of the board
was fraudulent. It portrays an element of fraud.”
Several of our
sources depicted Ms. Ajufo as somebody versed in the art of warming up
to top politicians in the state and getting her way.
Two sources
said Ms. Ajufo used her share of the looted funds to start off a twin
duplex building located at No.6 Dunkwu Crescent in Asaba, the state
capital. The building is behind Junior Staff quarters and near a
Redeemed Christian Church. One source said Ms. Ajufo had started the
project in June, 2012.
A source close to Ms. Ajufo told source that the head of the tourism board had denied receiving
any of the embezzled funds. “She accused Mr. Mofe Damijo of carting away
the whole sum of N50 million even when her account was used to commit
the fraud,” said the source.
Meanwhile, Ms. Ajufo’s staff have
reportedly lost all patience with her manner of running the board. “The
acting GM is very, very corrupt,” said a staffer. “As we talk, apart
from her official car, the Tourism Board cannot boast of a single
functional car. All the board’s cars are grounded. And in this era of
technology, there is no single working computer apart from one in her
office – which she doesn’t use. Her office is entitled to N1 million
subventions every month, but as soon as the money comes the commissioner
and the GM share most of it. The left over is never properly used by
the GM.”
A source who was on the GM’s entourage to the Akwaba
Festival in Lagos last October told SR that Ms. Ajufo
embezzled some funds meant to secure an exhibition stand at the
festival. “The GM collected N500, 000 from the government to procure an
exhibition stand for Delta State at the Akwaba Festival held in Lagos in
October, 2012. Instead, she pocked the sum of N300, 000 and went for an
ordinary table stand which cost her N200, 000 only. She is the most
corrupt of all the GMs we have ever worked with in that board. She runs
fraudulent deals with the commissioner and they have both amassed wealth
for themselves to the detriment of the people of Delta State.”
When
a reporter sent a text to Ms. Ajufo, the embattled GM wrote back,
“Please, speak with the Honorable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism.
Thank you.”
Contacted by phone, Mr. Damijo denied all the
allegations, insisting that no such money was released to his ministry
at any time. “That matter is a dead matter,” he said. “There was no N50
million released to my ministry.” I run the Ministry with people, the
Permanent Secretary and other directors.”
Culled from Saharareporters
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