PDP wants minister prosecuted over alleged NBC’s N2.5b fraud

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate prosecution of the former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, over his alleged role in the reported National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) N2.5 billion fraud.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, also demanded the immediate prosecution of the sacked Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Prof. Usman Yusuf, over allegation of misappropriation of N919 million as exposed by a ministerial panel.

The PDP said that the duo must not be left off the hook because of their affiliation with the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Presidency.

The party insisted that Mohammed should be prosecuted alongside the Director-General of the NBC, Alhaji Modibbo Kawu, following his alleged statement at the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The PDP said the ICPC had already indicated in a press release that Alhaji Lai Mohammed admitted in a statement to it that he was “misled” by the Director-General of the NBC, who was his subordinate, into approving the payment of the N2.5 billion to a private company.

According to the ICPC, “the former minister’s involvement had come under questioning following discovery by the ICPC during investigations that a government white paper that governs the execution of DSO programme was allegedly flouted by the head of the NBC.

“Mohammed had however admitted in a statement to the commission that he was misled by Kawu.”The party, therefore, insisted that since the ICPC holds that the former minister’s involvement had come under questioning, he should be made to explain himself in the dock, not as a witness but as a defendant in the matter.It said that the dismissal of the NHIS boss had also vindicated its position that billions of naira meant for the health needs of Nigerians were being frittered.

Also, it stated that Yusuf must be prosecuted to track and recover the over N25 billion allegedly siphoned from the account of the scheme in the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to service APC interests.