Kebbi Sets Up Committee To Probe Diversion Of Grants To Orphans

By Ayodele Oni

Efforts to reintegrate and better the lots of orphans in Kebbi state are being frustrated following allegation of diversion and pilfering of donations by international agencies to cater for them.

An international donor agency, the World Muslim League had earlier this month transferred N2.1 billion to 1,849 orphans in the state, through bank transfers, to support their upbringing.

Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ahmed Idris, in a statement, explained that the money is being received from this organisation for onward disbursement to orphans to cater for their education and general upkeep.

Following mounting report of alleged diversion of this fund, the Kebbi State government has vowed to decisively deal with those shortchanging orphans in the disbursement of funds received from the World Muslim League.

Addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Muhammad Sani-Aliyu described the act as fraudulent, adding that government would not take the issue lightly.

He lamented that some guardians entrusted with managing the orphans’ funds, in collaboration with the mastermind of the fraudulent act, have engaged in the illegal withdrawal and diversion of the funds.

The commissioner said in view of the gravity of the offence, government has constituted a committee to recover the funds fraudulently removed from orphans’ accounts.

Sani-Aliyu listed members of the committee to include; three Commissioners, two Advisers and two Permanent Secretaries to be chaired by him, saying that the committee was mandated to ensure thorough investigation into the matter.

He explained that in view of the compassion Governor Nasir Idris has for the orphans, he directed that a committee be established immediately with a view to recovering the syphoned funds and return same to the rightful owners.

The commissioner stated that preliminary investigation showed that the fraudulent acts were perpetrated using Point of Sale (POS) terminals not the conventional banking outlets.

He, however, promised that if further investigation uncovers hands of any bank, government would lodge a formal complain to the headquarters of such bank for appropriate action.

Sani-Aliyu, who described the act as unfortunate and a gross act of exploitation, assured that government under the able leadership of Governor Idris would not fold its arm and allow some bad elements cheating the orphans.

“Going by Islamic teaching, orphans are very important segment of the society, therefore, we must do everything possible to protect their rights.”

While appreciating the World Muslim League for extending such gesture to orphans in Kebbi State, Sani-Aliyu said government had already lodged a complain with the League’s Nigeria Regional Office in Kaduna, who assured support for the recovery of the funds.