NIGERIAN WOMEN ACTIVISTS SUE MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS OVER ATTEMPT TO MISMANAGE $500M WORLD BANK LOAN

A lawsuit has been filed in the High Court of Enugu State by two women’s rights organizations against the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Ken Ohanenye over the attempt to mismanage a $500 million loan provided by the World Bank to improve the lives of Nigerian women.

Other defendants included in the lawsuit are the President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Finance, Wale Edun and Director of International Economic Relations Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr Nyeso Stanley George.

The applicants, Amb. Onyinye Joy Mamah, representing Heroine Women Foundation, and Amaka-Ajuzie Ogbu, of NET Bridge Empowerment Foundation, claimed that the previous $100 million loan from the World Bank, intended to empower impoverished Nigerian women, which was released during President Muhammadu Buhari’s government was allegedly squandered on consultancy fees, seminars, and other non-essential activities. 

According to the plaintiffs, the funds never reached the intended beneficiaries who are poor Nigerian women.

The women’s activities said they are worried that the $500 million loan is at risk of suffering the same fate as the previous funds, being diverted into private pockets instead of being utilized for meaningful development projects.

Amb. Mamah, the lead plaintiff, emphasized in her affidavit that Nigerian women, who will bear the responsibility of repaying the loan, have not seen any tangible benefits from previous funds. 

She warned that failure to utilize the current loan effectively could leave the country in prolonged economic servitude.

“That another 500 Million Dollars has just been provided by the selfsame World Bank for the benefit of the Nigerian women, it is not free manna from the Heavens but still a loan facility to be repaid with interest in due course of time by the teaming Nigerian populace.

“That the enemies of the people are circling again determined to divert the fund, away from the Nigerian women for whom the money is meant and into private pockets. A whole of 500 Million United States Dollars ploughed into useful and meaningful endeavors – agriculture, fishery, trading, making of crafts eic. wi: chase hunger, death, slavery insecurity, prostitution and other vices out of the land.

“It is the bounden responsibility of the respondents to ensure that this fund, intended for the empowerment of Nigerian women, is not misappropriated”.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to enforce the proper use of the $500 million loan for its intended purpose, arguing that Nigeria’s economic recovery, especially the dignity of its women, depends on it.

The plaintiffs argued that if the funds are mismanaged again, it will deepen Nigeria’s economic crisis and perpetuate the nation’s poor international reputation.

The court has yet to set a hearing date for the case.