N13 million fraud: Lai Mohammed finally surrender

N13 million fraud: Lai Mohammed finally surrender

Nigeria's Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has come under serious attack from Nigerians, with calls for his resignation, after the minister was implicated in an alleged N13 million scam with the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

In a letter signed by the Ministry of Information’s Director of Public Relations and Protocol, a whooping request of N13 million loan was requested to finance Mohammed’s trip to China.

The letter reads that: “I am directed to inform you [NBC] that the Honourable Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, is proceeding on official assignment to China on Sunday, 15th May 2016.

“The Honourable Minister has therefore approved that you loan the Ministry the total sum of (N13,120,470) thirteen million, one hundred and twenty thousand, four hundred and seventy Naira only, to enable him and his team embark on the China trip to carry out the assignment.”

The reported loan by Lai Mohammed, has therefore sparked reactions, as Nigerians question the anti-corruption stance of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

A cross-section of Nigerians who gave their reactions said: “Lai Mohammed’s outburst has once again shown us that this APC Government is not interested in fighting corruption. They are 100% hypocrites.” Gege‏@nigeriasbest

“Seems PB & Lai Mohammed are not on the same page vis-a-vis a ‘transparent & accountable’ public revenue mgt system.” Mr. Aye Dee ‏@MrAyeDee

“NIGERIANS, It’s okay to tax you all to death, but Lai Mohammed doesn’t owe you any explanations for this?” OpinionNigeria ‏@OpinionNigeria

“Lai Mohammed couldn’t lie his way outta this mess. Instead he is upset the memo got leaked to the public. S-H-A-M-E” Charles the 1st @9jaBloke

“Contravening rules is bad enough. But the arrogance that Lai Mohammed channels with he doesn’t owe any explanations is what grates the most. Chioma Agwuegbo ‏@ChiomaChuka

“We should ask @Amanpour or @nkemifejika or @FemiOke to question Lai Mohammed for us since this government only talks to foreign media.” Chioma Agwuegbo ‏@ChiomaChuka

“Have Always Wanted Lai Mohammed Out Of The Way Before. Thank God For This Gaffe @NGRPresident I’m Waiting To See If This Will Be Swept Under” Kéhìndé ‏@jlloyd1212

“Lai Mohammed does not owe Nigerians any explanation. If course he knows this is his final Bustop as a public official.He doesn’t give a damn” Nnamdi Anekwe-Chive ‏@nnamdianekwe

“How @MBuhari handles Lai Mohammed’s #NBCLoanScandal will determine if there’s any shred of integrity in his anti-corruption stance.” #AzuAnuka ‏@ManiPeters

“What is Lai Mohammed going to do in China?” Holmes ‏@Tyxyzy

However, the Minister in a reply to an inquiry into the details of the trip, maintained that he would not give any explanations.

He stated that, “the way the ministry is run is not the subject of public discussion.” Adding that, “I do not owe you an obligation or duty to tell you that”, when asked to give a breakdown of the trip’s cost.

-Post Nigeria