Senate stops N4bn first ladies’ mission house project

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The Senate on Wednesday dropped the controversial African First Ladies’ Peace Mission House project when it passed the N259.65bn budget of the Federal Capital Territory for the 2013 fiscal year without approving the N4bn appropriated for it.

In February when the budget proposal was brought to the National Assembly, it contained N4bn vote for the construction of the mission house in Abuja, a development that attracted a lot of criticisms from members of the public.

The Senate, during the second reading of the bill, questioned the rationale of committing scarce resources to prosecute a less important structure.

Civil rights groups and political parties had also berated the Federal Capital Territory Administration for budgeting N4bn for the construction of the building for a non-governmental body headed by the wife of the President, Mrs. Patience Jonathan.

PHOTOS: Patience Jonathan And Protest Against Wole Soyinka Over N4bn Building Scandal

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Some "Nigerian Women" rented by Nigeria's first lady and the minister of the FCT Bala Muhmammed were out early yesterday morning on the streets of Abuja for a "staged demonstration" in support of the minister's plan to build a N4 billion mission building for the first lady's pet project.

The women, youths and physically challenged protesters were all carrying placards supposedly written for them abusing Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka. Some of the placards read: "Educated illiterate", "Soyinka: Grammar King without sense", "Abuja has come to stay ".

EFCC Declares Ex-Kogi Governor, Abubakar Audu, Wanted Over N4bn Fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has declared former governor of Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, wanted for offences bordering on conspiracy, stealing and misappropriation of public fund.

The action followed the failure of the Mr. Audu to respond to invitations by the anti- graft agency.

An attempt by the EFCC to arrest at the former governor at his 32, Sulaiman Barau Street, Asokoro, Abuja residence on December 11, 2012 failed as he allegedly evaded arrest.The former governor is alleged to have fraudulently enriched himself with over N4 billion of Kogi funds while he held sway as governor between 1999 and 2003.