Popular Nollywood actor turned politician, Richard Mofe Damijo
(popularly called RMD), who's the Commissioner for Culture and
Tourism in Delta State has allegedly embezzled N50 million belonging to
the ministry, together with the acting General Manager of the state’s
Tourism Board, Philo Nkem Ajufo.
Sources in Delta State, including two employees of the Culture Ministry,
told our reporter 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 state's Commissioner of Finance.
The warrant indicated that N35 million of the funds was to go to the
Tourism Board.
Our sources disclosed that RMD 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 said, “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 started the project
in June, 2012.
Surprisingly, a source close to Ms. Ajufo told SaharaReporters
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.”
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.”
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