There are strong reasons to believe that over nine billion naira (N9b) raised by former First Lady, Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua for her pet project on Cancer may have gone the usual pattern of untraceable disappearances in a time when there are strong apprehensions about how huge amount of money are often trafficked out of Nigeria in suitcases.
Turai Yar’Adua, wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, had launched a national cancer hospital pet project with funfair and pageantry. The former first lady allegedly sent out solicitation request for donation to wealthy and influential individuals, International Funding Organizations, governmental and non-governmental agencies who in turn responded in cash and kind, proceeds which purportedly ran into over N9billion.
However, almost three years after the funds were raised in, the vision and actualization have turned into a mirage. There is no cancer hospital anywhere. Turai, who usurped her husband’s place in the presidency by hiding the fact of her husband’s serious medical condition until the man died, has not rendered account of how the N9b was disbursed. What is certain is that the money has not been accounted for. Instead, she shuttles Katsina, Dubai and other holiday resorts in the Middle East.
The sad disappearance of the money is coming at a time when the country’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said there are increasing cases of greed and trafficking of raw cash in suitcases. EFCC said they have intercepted over $9m at the country’s exit points in the last ten months especially when serious probes have been launched into diversion of fuel subsidy money.
Mr. Lamorde, the chairman of the EFCC said that about N14b, representing almost half of Nigeria’s annual budget is often taken out through briefcases. The country has solicited the expertise of Switzerland to trace such missing money.