Fresh allegations of financial mismanagement have surfaced against Ambassador Gabriel Tanimu Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, over the alleged misappropriation of $2 million earmarked for the renovation of Nigeria’s Permanent Representative’s residence at the United Nations.
Sources familiar with the situation claim that the funds were released in 2021 when Aduda was serving as the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the official residence, located at 548 South Broadway in Tarrytown, New York, remains untouched, with no visible renovation work carried out.
The contractor assigned to the project, Wale Owomoyela, has confirmed that he was never mobilized for the job despite the full release of funds, raising concerns about the whereabouts of the $2 million.
Ambassador Aduda, who is the younger brother of former Senator Philip Aduda, a known political associate of FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, has yet to respond to the allegations. The revelations have sparked calls for accountability, with anti-corruption groups urging a full-scale probe into the missing funds.
“This is yet another example of how public funds are being mismanaged with impunity,” said a senior government watchdog official. “There needs to be an immediate investigation to track the money and hold those responsible accountable.”
The alleged financial scandal comes amid rising public outcry over government corruption and mismanagement, particularly in light of Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Efforts to reach Ambassador Aduda for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
