The ministry of finance says Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, did not award contracts worth N13 billion without following due process.
A report had claimed that the finance minister and Lydia Jafiya, the ministry’s permanent secretary, awarded “fraudulent” contracts worth N13 billion between February and June 2024.
In a statement on Monday, Mohammed Manga, the ministry’s director of information and public relations, described the allegations as “unfounded” and “malicious”.
“The Ministry wishes to unequivocally state that at no time were such contracts awarded without due process,” Manga said
He said the claims aim to “tarnish the reputation” of the minister and the permanent secretary as well as to distract Nigerians from the ministry’s efforts to revamp the economy under the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
“The Ministry further wishes to state that all contracts awarded from February to June 2024 including that of the Presidential Initiatives on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi CNG) and by extension other contracts till date were done in accordance with the Public Procurement Act and other relevant laws and regulations,” the statement reads.
“Any insinuation of corruption or irregularities as claimed in the publication is baseless and without merit.”
Reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to “transparency and accountability,” Manga urged the media to “always cross check all information before going to the press”.
He said the ministry “will not hesitate to take legal action against any individual or organization” spreading false and malicious claims.
Manga urged the public to disregard the publication and be assured that the ministry is working diligently to implement the president’s economic reforms and improve the lives of Nigerians. (The Cable)
