Housing fraud: EFCC quizzes NAWOJ president, contractor again

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday
referred the President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists,
Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, for further interrogation on allegations of
misappropriation of housing funds contributed by members of the
association.

Also recommended for further interrogation was the contractor,
Prime Water View Holdings, which claimed to have spent N73m on road
clearing and logistics at the proposed estate site.

The duo had earlier been quizzed by the commission over the
money, which was meant for financing low cost housing for the
members.

Recall PUNCH had in a report, titled ‘NAWOJ President, Omowole,
faces fire over multimillion-naira journalists’ housing scandal’
revealed the scam surrounding how the money was spent.

But a statement on Wednesday said Omowole and the contractor
could not give satisfactory responses to questions on how the money
was spent, when cross-examined by the EFCC’s Head of Operations in
Lagos, Mr. Akan Esima.

The statement read, “Former NAWOJ National Treasurer admitted
collecting a cash of $227,000, which she claimed to have given to
Omowole. The money is yet to be accounted for as Omowole also
claimed to have given it to Deji Elumoye, a former Lagos NUJ
Chairman, without any documentation.

“Also, the $227,000, which Omowole unilaterally converted to
naira, came under scrutiny. She said she changed $24,000 out of the
$227,000 at the rate of N150 to a dollar in April 2016. The amount
earlier reported was said to have been changed at the rate of N309
on March 1, 2016, realising N73m.

“Omowole had no evidence to show for her expenditure, other than
mentioning Elumoye’s name repeatedly. Elumoye has therefore been
recommended for invitation.

“Omowole and Tosin Odusola (the then treasurer of NAWOJ), who
were later joined by Abimbola Oyetunde, a General Manager with the
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, were also at the EFCC’s
office.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday
referred the President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists,
Mrs. Ifeyinwa Omowole, for further interrogation on allegations of
misappropriation of housing funds contributed by members of the
association.

Also recommended for further interrogation was the contractor,
Prime Water View Holdings, which claimed to have spent N73m on road
clearing and logistics at the proposed estate site.

The duo had earlier been quizzed by the commission over the
money, which was meant for financing low cost housing for the
members.

Recall PUNCH had in a report, titled ‘NAWOJ President, Omowole,
faces fire over multimillion-naira journalists’ housing scandal’
revealed the scam surrounding how the money was spent.

But a statement on Wednesday said Omowole and the contractor
could not give satisfactory responses to questions on how the money
was spent, when cross-examined by the EFCC’s Head of Operations in
Lagos, Mr. Akan Esima.

The statement read, “Former NAWOJ National Treasurer admitted
collecting a cash of $227,000, which she claimed to have given to
Omowole. The money is yet to be accounted for as Omowole also
claimed to have given it to Deji Elumoye, a former Lagos NUJ
Chairman, without any documentation.

“Also, the $227,000, which Omowole unilaterally converted to
naira, came under scrutiny. She said she changed $24,000 out of the
$227,000 at the rate of N150 to a dollar in April 2016. The amount
earlier reported was said to have been changed at the rate of N309
on March 1, 2016, realising N73m.

“Omowole had no evidence to show for her expenditure, other than
mentioning Elumoye’s name repeatedly. Elumoye has therefore been
recommended for invitation.

“Omowole and Tosin Odusola (the then treasurer of NAWOJ), who
were later joined by Abimbola Oyetunde, a General Manager with the
Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, were also at the EFCC’s
office.”