Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the immediate past Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Nkechi Ejele, for questioning over her role in the disappearance of N500 million Subsidy Re-investment Programme cash meant for the ministry.
Ejele, who was sacked by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, was summoned by the EFCC to answer questions on how the huge sum of money earmarked by the government for the ministry disappeared under her watch.
According to a competent source in the commission, Ejele, who arrived the headquarters of the anti-graft agency around 10am on Thursday, was still being grilled as at 3pm.
The former permanent secretary is expected to be admitted to administrative bail pending when she would be formally charged for the alleged offence.
The Subsidy Re-investment Programme fund was distributed to many agencies of government to help cushion the adverse effect of the partial removal of oil subsidy by the government in 2011.
However, it is being alleged that most of the money given out by the administration was stolen and diverted into personal pockets, thereby defeating the government’s good intention.
*Vanguard.
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